Spanish finish gives Bel a lift
PRESTBURY, Cheshire and England star Bel Wardle enjoyed herself in the Spanish Ladies stroke-playchampionship in Spain and moved up the world amateur rankings.
Bel finished in second spot after the three-round competition at Monte Castello Golf Club where she posted 74, 73 and 73 to finish four over par.
This left her four shots adrift of the winner Natalyia Guseva and two shots clear of four players tied in third spot.
The result saw her move into 26th place in the world rankings – her highest-ever placing and looking forward to more success in 2020.
Bel had to be content with third spot back at Prestbury in a 5-club Chicken Run with her 25 points seeing her behind Jean Duncan 27 and Alex Forbes 30.
Prestbury’s men enjoyed an Am Am and none more than the top trio of C Adams, C Barker and M Jackson with 82 points taking them clear of K Bradbury, K Jee and T Coutts 78 andR Bianchi, M Robertson and G Lover 77.
Davenport ladies played a 13-hole Greensome Stableford and D Housley and J Carswell were clear winners with 27 points from M Page and M Quigley 24 and D Illingworth and L Jones and C Thwaites and S Hudson both 22.
Avro’s ever-busy men played two competitions and a midweek Stableford was won by Michael McDonagh with 40 points from Neil Flood 38 and Peter Walker and Ken Fairfield, both 35.
A Christmas Prize Stableford was won by Peter Hale with a good haul of 42 points from Lelie Fowler 37 and Ian Anderson and Jack Leech, both 33.
A BB Stableford at Mottam Hall was a close contest with P Dunford and P Smith first past the post with 47 points followed by M Delargy and A Hockenhull 46 and M Richardson and P Draper and C and U Rawthore, both 45.
The monthly medal at Shrigley Hall was won by Roger White after a cpo on 70 with Danield Hensahw, one less
Reddy.
The Thursday Stableford at Shrigley had a clear winner in Peter Whitehurst with 35 points, four more than Peter Trussell and Peter Will.
A Seniors Regressive Stableford at Styal was led in with 77 points by H Mitchell, A Beckett and A Ghost from H Dickson, K Dawson and T Marsden 75.
A Wednesday 9-hole Stableford at Styal was closer with Kevin Doherty on top with 21 points from Neil Brownhill, Chris Hart and Tom Bloor, all 19.
Styal ladies were in Winter League action and Enid Laverty led in with 23 points from Nancy Chorlton 21 and Joan Doyle 20.
The Manchester Alliance returned to play at Whitefield Golf Club after a ten-year absence and a good field of players enjoyed the challenge of their well-presented course which played its full length in some persistent rain.
Whitefield professional Chris Bibby was the sponsor for the competition and he was given great support in the clubhouse by the friendly Whitefield staff.
Jamie Howarth (Davenport) had the outstanding than
David round of the day posting a four-under par round for 40 points to lead in the individual pro section from Alastair Waddell (Chorlton) 38 and Matty Kay (Ashton-under-Lyne), Scott Jackson (Disley) and Ollie Smith (Ashton-onMersey) all 37.
Alliance professional Order of Merit leader Phil Archer (Poulton Park) found an excellent partner in Mark Pasquill (Leigh) to win the pro am section with 45 points, two more than Matty Kay and Ashton-under-Lyne colleague James Taylor who won a cpo from Chorlton’s dynamic duo of Alastair Waddell and Mike Lynch.
It was close in the am am section with three pairs locked on 39 points and getting the nod were Kevin Yardley and Phil Spencer (Horwich) from Don Milligan (Chorlton) and Andy Halliwell (Ellesmere) and Stand’s perpetually unlucky Norman Haslam and James Parton.
Alliance President Ian Brooks (Bolton Old Links) thanked the club, Chris Bibby and President Anthony Harris for their great support on a day when many golf clubs had closures or reduced courses in providing a great venue.