Prestbury ace in Cheshire triumph
WILMSLOW Golf Club, the home club of Cheshire President Andrew Henshall, were fantastic hosts for the Cheshire strokeplay championships providing a great course in superb condition backed by perfect weather for three days of top golf competition with nearly 100 players in action in the first two rounds.
Sam Turner (Royal Lytham and St Annes GC), a long-time member of Stockport Golf Club, set the early pace with a blistering first round of 64, four shots clear of Cheshire legend David Peel (Stockport).
But round two saw Prestbury’s Mike Harrington come into contention with a neat 67 giving him a one-shot advantage over Sam Turner for the last two rounds for the top 40 players playing 36 holes on the final day.
Round three saw Delamere Forest’s Jake Hibbert join in the race with 69 as Sam Turner went into the final round with a one-shot advantage over playing partner Mike Harrington.
The lead changed hands several times before a superb eagle three on the 13th took Harrington into the lead but ahead of them Jake Hibbert had posted a fine 68 to take the lead in the clubhouse.
So the drama was saved until the final hole and with a play-off looming Mike Harrington needed a birdie to win the title for the first time.
After a good chip with his third shot he faced a tricky seven-footer to win the championship and he kept his nerve to hole the putt for a 280 total and win by a shot from Jake with Sam next in on 282.
Mike will represent Cheshire in the national county finals at Frilford Heath in September and he also took the Darlington Trophy for the best score on the first two rounds
Mike Harrington was also a member of the Prestbury team with Remy Miller and Tom Kirton who will represent the county in the national finals later in the year and he collected the trophy along with the championship trophy and the over35 trophy.
Jake Hibbert won the Israel Sidebottom Trophy as the runner-up and he was also the leading Colt (under 22 years of age)
Round prizes went to Sam Turner 64, Mike Harrington 67, Oscar Doran 68 and Elliott Wakefield 68.
Andrew Henshall thanked all at Wilmslow on and off the course and the Cheshire officials for their outstanding work in making this a fine championship and he thanked the club by presenting the Wilmslow Captain Ben Cartwright with a county plaque.
Mike secures a third county title for his club with Bel Wardle winning the Cheshire ladies championship and Gill Mellor winning the Cheshire Senior Ladies title earlier in the season.
A midweek Stableford at Avro was won by Stephen Callaghan with 37 points from Ken Fairfield 34 and Chris Robinson and Phil Oakes, both 33.
The Lancaster Club Trophy at Avro saw Ian Hallsworth go clickety click to finish well clear of Paul Johnson 70 and Neil Flood who won a cpo on 71.
Medal action for Alderley Edge’s men saw Oliver Lane blitz division one with 62, three less than Andy Wells and Tony Cooper. Aled Jones was also hot in division two with his 62 taking him clear of Paul Grundy 63 and Matthew Cresey 66.
Edge’s ladies played for the BB Ping prize and it was won by S Freeman and Sue Kendrick with 45 points, one more than T Smith and K Pennington.
The third summer medal for Davenport’s men had division one topped by Gareth Winstanly 64 and Edward Bailey 66.
Division two hotshot was Jack Lloyd with 67, one less than Graeme Dodd and in division three Stuart Scott led in with 68.
Davenport ladies played for the Grandma’s Trophy and in a tight finish Joy Leary won a cpo on 35 points from Shirley Luther and Marion Page.
Mottram Hall’s men played two rounds for the club championship and in round one the pace was set by Matthew Nelson with 67 from Brendon Poynts 68
In round two Nigel Bown was a clear winner with 66 from Simon Tuohy and Matthew Nelson, both 69.
The consistent Matthew Nelson was a clear winner with 136 from Simon Tuohy and Brendon Poynts, both 141.
It was close in a midweek Stableford at Prestbury with a cpo on 40 points going in favour of Andrew Frost from Mark Hughes and Josh Turnock.
Prestbury ladies were in ‘major’ action for the Maud Bason Trophy and Alison Martin was first past the post with 74, one less than Nicky Markland and Claire Jones.
Shrigley Hall’s men played a two-division Stableford supporting Help for Heroes and division one was topped by Niall Lynch with 37 points, one more than Darren McGahey and David Reddy.
In division two James Brown had the best score of the day posting 39 points, two more than Sunil Mehta.
The Wednesday Roll Up at Shrigley was won by Gary Wood with 22 points ahead of Neil Worthington 20 and Max Turner 19.
The Seniors Memorial Trophy at Styal was won by Brian Appleby with 66 from Alan Carroll and the legendary Harry Reid, both 67.
A Wednesday Stableford at Styal was won by Steve Daniels with 40 points, one more than star juniors Ryan Owen and Sam Macleod.
The Sunday Stableford at Styal was led in by Brian Donelan with 41 points from Zoe Evans 39.
Styal ladies played a BB Stableford for the Holohan Trophy and the clear winners with 43 points were H Billington and L Bennett from L Forsythe and Mel Hill 40.
The latest round of the Styal Ladies Summer Cup was won by Diana Hutchinson with 14 points, two more than Janice Whalley and Gayle Blackburn.
Sale Golf Club were fine hosts for the latest Cheshire Members meeting which again attracted a good field of well over 100 players from across the county who enjoyed a pristine course, fine weather and good offcourse hospitality and welcome for their visitors.
The leader board was dominated by players from Tytherington with David Court and Neil McLeod winning a cpo on 47 points from their Tytherington colleagues Mark Corden and Roger Hopton.
Keith Colclough and Kevin Burt from Alsager broke the Tytherington monopoly as they took third spot after a cpo on 46 points with Tytherington’s Robert Hamilton and Gary Leyland.
Next in after winning a cpo on 44 points from four other pairs were Fred Bridge and Simon Moorhouse from Prestbury.
Providing great organisation in a long day were CUGC officials Mike Field and Ken Bradley with plenty of help from Sale members.