Two birdies in the last two holes saw Gareth Evans become the first player representing Yorkshire to win the English Golf Union County Champions' trophy since 1986.

The Northcliffe player finished five under par for two rounds over the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa to come top of the pile against 31 other county champions.

His late birdie burst meant he finished one clear of Northumberland's George Cowan and Tom Lawson, of Berks, Bucks & Oxon.

But it was a miraculous recovery at the par four 15th hole that was just as crucial to his success.

Having birdied the 14th, he looked certain to slip back after his ball, caked in mud, flew 20 yards to the right and into a gorse bush after his second shot.

That left him with a seemingly impossible task to make par from an awful lie.

"I was hitting downhill over a bunker from a bush but somehow I managed to get up and down. That was what won it for me," said the Wyke-based golfer, who had never previously played the Lincolnshire course.

"I had a birdie chance at the next which lipped out. I heard on the green that four under was leading and I was three under.

"I thought if I could make one at 17 and maybe birdie the last, I would be in with a shout."

He did just that, making birdie putts of ten and six feet at the last two greens for a second round 69.

"This is a massive win for me," said the 27-year-old, who qualified for the event after beating three internationals, including Danny Denison, to win the Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Fixby in July.

"As an achievement, the Yorkshire event was probably a bit harder to win over a number of days. But this probably ranks a little bit higher."

Evans, who was three off the pace after an opening round 72, believed the way he played the difficult first half of the course was just as crucial to his triumph.

"The first seven holes were really difficult. I've never seen bunkers like it - some were 30 foot high and looked as high as a house.

"It was a bit like Ganton but harder. You had to use your driver a lot and if you missed the fairway you lost the ball or were in a bunker 20 foot high.

"You had to drive well which I managed to do in both rounds."

Evans' success is sure to have given the England selectors a nudge and he will get another chance to impress them in this week's English County Championship finals which starts tomorrow at Prince's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent.

He competes alongside Baildon's former England under-16 international Simon Bell in the Yorkshire team who are bidding to retain their crown. Both players were part of the squad that won at St Enodoc last year.

"The six-man team event is always a good crack as we have a great team spirit," added Evans.

Yorkshire face old rivals Surrey, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire in round-robin format with each match featuring three foursomes and six singles.