Age no barrier to legend Barry
BARRY McConnell added to his legendary status at Houldsworth Golf Club by becoming their oldestever player to win a ‘major’ trophy.
Barry has twice been the Houldsworth Captain and he showed his skills and competitive nature in the President’s Trophy.
He shared top spot with Eric Wilkins and Danny McCoy as they all posted 68 to force an 18-hole play-off.
Eric was eliminated leaving Danny and Barry to play another 18 holes with Barry showing his resilience with 72 as Danny carded 77 in a thrilling finish to become the club’s oldest ever ‘major’ winner.
More ‘major’ action at Houldsworth saw the Webb Cup won by Anthony Clancy with a two-round total of 139 (71 and 68) from Dave Flint 140.
In a thrilling finish for the Captain’s Trophy Chris Fawley clinched it on the last green with a two round total of 141(71 and 70) beating Paul McCallum by a shot.
Disley juniors played for the Henshall Cup and it was won with a fine score of 41 points by Lewis Holland from Josh Hill 40.
The Autumn Meeting for Disley’s men produced a tight finish with Grant Knowles winning a cpo on 68 from Simon Carter and just a shot off the pace on 69 were Don Campbell, Peter Hodge and Chris Parker.
Disley ladies played a Long Handicap Stableford which was won by R Griffiths with 31 points and in the alternate Stableford A Booth led in with 38 points, three more than L Pulley.
Cheadle’s men played for the Past Captain’s Trophy and in division one Andy Hall was first past the post with 40 points, one more than David Griffiths.
David Conway was out on his own in division two with 38 points, four more than Chris Cale and Stephen Brown.
Gatley’s men played for the Seniors Trophy and it was won at a canter by Graeme Rawlinson with his swinging 62 taking him seven shots clear of John Woolley.
A medal for Gatley ladies was won by Angela Griffiths with a neat 73.
Romiley juniors played for the McRoberts Cup and in a close contest Bradley Snape led in with 71 from Matt Murray 72 and Alex Jones 73.
Romiley’s men played for the Jubilee Trophy and it ended with six players level on 33 points.
Taking top spot in a tense cpo was N Gorman from Ian Smith, Simon Hebden, James Millington, W Hanson and D Ball.
Romiley ladies were in medal mode and Sally McRoberts was top of the shop with 75, three less than Astrid Ceelen.
A Wednesday Stableford at Heaton Moor had Jonathan Beckett winning a cpo on 37 points from David Rushton and John Gough.
Heaton Moor Lady Captain’s Day was won by Joyce Barclay with a nett 71 from Carole Wheeler 74 and Judy Collins and Margaret Judkins, both 76.
The George Scott Stableford for new Mills men had Peter Griffiths winning a cpo on 40 points from David Swindells and Clive Garside.
Medal action for New Mills ladies had Jackie Piper winning a cpo on 74 from Celia James with Marie-Anne McGibbon next in with 76.
A singles Stableford for Mellor and Townscliffe ladies had a clear winner in Christine Bartlett with her 36-pointer seeing her five clear of Karen Jones and Vivien Gent.
M and T’s men were in medal mode and in division one Paul Wilkinson raced to victory with 63, six shots less than Jay Bebbington, Mike Anderson and Andrew Jackson.
In division two Ken Clarke went clickety click to finish two shots ahead of Steve Strong and J Beech.
Disley Golf Club showed its powers of recovery as it presented an excellent course and sublime weather following the torrential rain and storms just a few hours earlier.
The competition was sponsored by Disley professional Scott Jackson who used his local knowledge to great effect posting a six-under-par score of 42 points to win the individual professional prize ahead of Olly Pantoja (Ringway) and Adam Hodkinson (Chorlton), both 40.
It was close in the pro am section with Birchwood’s Phil Archer and Ian Cairns (Warrington) winning a cpo on 46 points from Alliance Captain Dave Smith and his ever-reliable Swinton Park partner Jimmy O’Reilly.
Next in on 42 points were Stamford’s Mark Smith and the majestic Steve Moores.
Stamford Golf Club were also in the prizes as the old firm of Danny Fox and Steve Finan won the am am section with 40 points, one more than Marcus Corfield (William Wroe) and Terry Gilbert (Davyhulme Park) who won a cpo from Paul Traynor and Mike Hewitt (Stamford).
The top assistant pro prize went to Stand’s Rob Batchelor with 37 points.
Cheshire Boys fielded a team of 12, ten of whom will be available for selection in 2017, against a very strong Yorkshire team who had narrowly lost out in the English finals to Wiltshire a few days earlier.
The Eaton course was in excellent condition and the weather was set fair as the teams played for the Dennis Bickerton Trophy.
In the morning foursomes matches Yorkshire took a narrow lead by 3.52.5 with Bramhall’s James Kempster and Archie Palmer and Tom Kirton (Prestbury) and George Mitchell (Congleton) winning their matches and Ryan Nevins (Styal) and Dan Heron (Wallasey halving their matches.
But there was a different story in the afternoon singles as Yorkshire, led by Alex Fitzpatrick, the brother of Ryder Cup selection Matt, led the way finishing in seven-underpar over 13 holes the first of ten wins.