BIGGA is better thanks to Ben
WILMSLOW Golf Club were great hosts for a pro am supporting their Captain Ben Cartwright’s chosen charity – the BIGGA Development Fund.
Ben is supporting the BIGGA Benevolent Fund as his Captain’s Charity during his year in office as he feels that it is about time that we all recognised the tremendous hard work our green staff put in when most of us are in bed.
He said: “Given the lasting effects for many clubs of last year’s blistering summer Wilmslow’s greens, tees and fairways have, due to our fantastic green staff remained in fabulous condition … and if you do not believe me just ask Tommy Fleetwood after he had played here in December.”
There was a great turnout of some of the North West’s top professionals leading their teams into action and also playing for individual prizes.
The winning team was led by Sandiway professional Gareth Jones and included former England cricket Captain Michael Vaughan, a member at Wilmslow, Mike Lumb and Nick Boyce-Hunter.
They posted a -15 score to lead in from Martin Hamer (Davyhulme Park professional) and his team of Tony Welburn, Bob Bardsley and Andrew Hamer on -14 who won a cpo from Davenport assistant professional Jamie Howarth, Stuart Beere, Rob Davies and Andy Kirkby
Wilmslow assistant professional Ben Stanier used his local knowledge to good effect with a top individual score of 68 taking him clear of Jamie Howarth, Martin Hamer and Graham Cox (Lymm) 70 and Ollie Pantoja (Ashton-on-Mersey 71.
Nearest the pin prizes were won by Mike Gardner, Andrew Burns and Brian Coutts and Prestbury, Cheshire and England ladies star Bel Wardle had the longest drive.
It was a great day and is expected to raise over £2000 for the BIGGA Development Fund to the delight of Captain Ben Cartwright.
Avro’s men played for the Tom McKenzie Tro
phy and it needed a cpo on 34 points to see Peter Walker home from Kevin Barker.
The Seniors Trophy at Avro was won by Bob Holt again after a cpo on 34 points from Ian Anderson, one more than Royce Lowis.
A Thursday 9-hole Stableford at Alderley Edge was won by Gavin Elly after a cpo on 19 points with Andy Wells, one more than Joe Pindar and Dan Featherstone.
It was also close in the 9-Hole Claret Jug Stableford at Edge won by Brian Foden with 20 points, one more than Mark Walker, David Snell and Richard Stewart.
Edge’s ladies were also in 9-hole Stableford action with Barbara Moss well clear with 18 points, five more than Jean Walker.
Davenport’s men played a BB Stableford for the Trevor Swindells Trophy and P Beard and J Bowe led in with 46 points from C Burns and P Griffiths 45 and J Dunn and E Bailey 44.
The President’s Day at Prestbury is one of their ‘major’ competitions and scratch player Matthew Delany showed his class with a winning 67 taking him clear of Simon Perry and Mark Mellor, both 69 and Simon Bolam 70.
A ladies Sunday Stableford at Prestbury had a clear winner in Josephine Harrison who posted and excellent 39 points to finish ahead of Jill Hughes 34 and Lynne Cameron 33.
A Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall needed a cpo on 37 points to take Jack Bennett into top spot ahead of Steve Brooks, Harry Bateman and Don Farquharson.
The Hornby Trophy at Shrigley Hall was won by Barry Horrocks with 68, two less than Steven Holroyd, Will Osbaldiston and Daniel Chesters.
The Friday Frolics at Styal saw Harry Wilks win a cpo on 17 points from Tony Sweeney with Keith Dawson, Khalil Musa, Ray Auton and Gerald Crowther all one point adrift.
The Professional’s Cup at Styal was won by Rob Sanderson with 68 from Ken Mayoh 69 and Daniel Lynch, Matt Saxton, Brian Appleby and David Campbell, all 71.
The Sunday Stableford at Styal had Thomas Walker out on his own with 41 points from David Blackburn 39 and Sam Hinchliffe and Chris Gibson, both 37.
The Bill Edge Trophy at Macclesfield was won by Jack D’Arcy with 42 points seeing him home from John Poole 40 and Mike Baker 39.
The Reddish Vale Junior Open will be held on August 27 and is a qualifying competition for the Daily Telegraph national competition.
There is a winning first prize voucher of £250 first prize which is sponsored by a generous and enthusiastic club member.
To enter the competition contact the club or enter online via Golf Empire.
Vale professional Andrew Myers said: “Last year was our first Junior Open, which proved very successful with nearly forty competitors.
So please encourage your juniors to come and play what is a very interesting course - they will be made most welcome and enjoy a great day.