Match Play date set

THE Manchester Alliance Match Play Championship is one of the big competitions of the season providing valuable points in the Order of Merit rankings and top trophies for the winners of the main championship and the Assistant professional’s championship.

Ashton-on-Mersey Golf club will again be hosting finals day on April 9 when the semi-finals and final are played on the same day.

Last year’s winner Phil Archer (Birchwood) and runner-up Graham Cox (Lymm) are seeded in opposite halves of the draw featuring 32 top players in the region.

The assistants’ champion Adam Hodkinson (Chorlton) will not be available to defend his title but there are plenty of good contenders to take over from Adam.

The full draw is: G Cox (Lymm) v I Davie (Hazel Grove); P Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey) v A Earlam (Oldham); T Cuppello (Pike Fold) v D Smith (Swinton Park); M Pearson (Prestwich) v O Pantoja (Altrincham); J Howarth (Davenport) v B Thompson (Hazel Grove); T Stevens (Davenport) v D Green (Dukinfield); R Batchelor (Stand) v P Crisp (Ashton-onMersey); A Waddell (Styal) v M Hancock (Stand); p Archer (Birchwood) v G Brown (Marple); O Smith (Ashton-onMersey) v J Salt (Ringway); G Hamerton (Pike Fold) v C Daggitt) Bramall Park); N Holmes (Bury) v A Millar (Ellesmere); A Palmer (Chorley) v K Gaskell (Westhoughton); A Rodgers (Harwood) v C Moroney; T Maxwell (Knutsford) v M Hamer (Davyhulme Park); G Norcott (Stockport) v M Smith (Stamford).