Trophy haul is growing for Bel
PRESTBURY Golf Club’s young star Bel Wardle, 18, added another top trophy to her impressive collection by winning the Cheshire Ladies Championship at a stunning Wilmslow Golf Club, the home club of Cheshire Ladies Captain Sybra Eardley.
Bel has won the Cheshire Girls Championships for a record four times in recent years and in 2017 was the double winner of the English Ladies and English Girls Championships.
This year Bel has also won the Comboy Trophy and the Portuguese Ladies Championships and has also enjoyed success with the England teams.
Bel opened her account with a fine round of 66 to win the Millenium Trophy for the Intermediate best 18 holes on qualifying day.
But she was beaten to the Doris Brown Trophy for the leading qualifier by Wilmslow’s Charlotte Leathem who posted 140 to also take the Intermediate championship.
Then it was down to two days of match play for the top 16 players with those players beaten in round one then playing for the Sir William Bailey Cup.
Making it through to the semi-finals were Charlotte Leathem, Poppy Finlay (Vicars Cross), Amy Toft (Chester) and Bel Wardle.
Progressing through were Charlotte who beat Poppy 4/3 and Bel who accounted for Amy by 8/6 to set up an epic and closely contested final which Bel won by 2/1.
The Sir William Bailey Cup was won by Emily McBurney who beat holder and Cheshire Girls Captain Lauren Jones of Mellor and Townscliffe.
Winning the handicap prizes were Amy Toft, Olivia Lowe (Delemaere Forest) and Lucy Jamieson (Heswall).
Back at Prestbury their ladies played a Pairs Stableford for the Australian Spoons and it was won by M Simons and J Morris with 34 points from D Masters and A Wood 31 and T Titchen and Jill Gregory 29.
A Midweek Stableford for Prestbury’s men saw Cheshire junior star Finn Manning in outstanding form as he posted 45 points to finish six clear of David Greensmith and Austin McBride.
A Seniors Stableford at Alderley Edge was won by David Read with 36 points, one more than Michael Pogson.
Dan Featherstone won the second round of the Hospital Trophy at Edge with 63 four less than Max Ekstein.
Edge’s ladies played for the Millenium Trophy and it was won by Helen Fitch with 38 points from Liz Maguire 37 and Olwen Davies 36.
A medal for Davenport’s men was won by Ken Perry with 68 from Liam Glennon 70 and Les Shippon and Dave Waldron-Kelly, both 72.
Davenport ladies played the second Beswick qualifier and topping the three divisions were Janet Lee 33 points, Pam Stevens 40 and Christine Lawther after a cpo on 31 points with Lyn Triggs.
Medal action at Mottram Hall had Antony Black on top with 68 from Alex Ellis 69.
Macclesfield Golf Club eventually stepped into action and welcomed the next generation of golfers to their Junior Open Day, ‘eventually’ as their original date was postponed due to snow.
The junior committee of Paul Tovee, Rick and Kerry Ward and PGA coach David Myers re-prepared the marketing materials and went about promoting the day again via the club website, clubhouse TV, social media, local schools and community groups.
The junior committee with help from some keen junior members and Junior Captain and apprentice greenkeeper Tom Silcock got to work setting up the inflatable practice nets, chipping nets and various bits of putting equipment including loads of clubs and balls.
There was a good attendance of over 70 children involved with putting, chipping and generally have a great time, some giving golf a go for the very first time.
Junior Organiser Paul Tovee said: “We purposely didn’t want to give it the hard-sell, it was more of a fun day where everyone was welcome to give golf a go and enjoy the day. We believe it was a huge success with over 70 young golfers taking part.”
The Ann Brammer Cup was played for in a medal for Macc ladies and it was won by Chris Hickmott from Chris Gleaves and Judy Mutter. Wendy Higgins had the lowest gross and Sue Orwin was nearest the pin.
Macc’s O70 ladies played over ten holes and Sue Lawton led in closely followed by Margaret Williams, Marureen Fleming, Carol Hyde and Gill Snelson
The President’s Day, which is the finale of the Manchester Alliance winter season, managed to defy heavy overnight rain and the players were able to enjoy a fine day on an excellent course at Davyhulme Park.
The Alliance Captain John Davies was fearful prior to the event that his new record of nine Alliance competition cancellations would be extended but his fears were unfounded.
However in recognition of his new record he was presented with a snorkel and goggles by President John Dowd who has now completed a magnificent record of 26 years in the role in the biggest organisation of its kind in the country.
There were plenty of prizes on offer and Penwortham Golf Club assistant pro Ryan O’Neill picked up two of them with his fine round of 67 that saw him take the coveted President’s Trophy and the top pro prize.
He had a best-of-theday 67 to finish ahead of Craig Corrigan 69 and Phil Archer and Colin Moroney, both 70.
The top amateur was Charles Herbert of Styal Golf Club with his nett round of 69 taking him clear of Paul Dalby (Wilmslow) 70 and Steve Moores (Stamford) 72
The big prize on offer was the professional Order of Merit which been a focus throughout the season and Phil Archer (Poulton Park), who was a member of the GB and I team that won the PGA Cup against the USA in 2017, was looking to retain the trophy he won in 2017.
He was pressed all the way by Craig Corrigan but triumphed with a total of 456 points, 47 clear of Corrigan.
In third place was Chorley assistant pro Andy Palmer and the points gained were enough to secure him the Assistant Pro OoM title from Rob Batchelor (Stand) 162 and Alistair Waddell (Styal) 122.
The final major prize was for the Amateur Order of Merit (sponsored by Mike Hollingworth of Denton GC) and it went to the wire as Bolton’s Keith Ashton overtook longtime leader Jimmy O’Reilly (Swinton Park Golf and Country Club) to post 46 points ahead of O’Reilly 43 and Steve McDermott (Ashton-onMersey) 36..
The guest prize was taken by Dukinfield professional Dave Green with 73, one less than Scott Jackson (Disley) and Vinny Doyle (Leigh).
A great day of golf and John Dowd and John Davies expressed their appreciation of the efforts made by the host club and players throughout a very difficult season