Amazing bird puts in rare appearance
REDDISH Vale Golf Club archivists are searching the club records to see if anyone can match the feat achieved by Kevin McCrevey during the third round of the Jubilee competition.
Kevin was playing the 343-yard par four tenth hole with Colin Leigh and Daniel Myers and he hit a great drive off the tee in perfect line for the green, and with just a touch of draw, and his playing partners were confident that he had reached the green.
The group in front – Vinny Costello, Geoff Loughlin and Pete McDermott – were looking for a ball on the back right of the green and had checked the hole on the way past but it was empty.
When they resumed play they returned to the hole and to their surprise there was a ball in it – where did that come from?
The following group were making their way down to the green and Geoff asked Kevin what ball he was playing.
Kevin immediately said a Callaway 3 with red dots on it and Geoff told Kevin his ball was in the hole – and he was so elated by the amazing occurrence he was unable to concentrate afterwards.
Vale pro Andrew Myers said: “Albatrosses are few and far between and most of them are twos on par fives, which I had about 20 years ago and the event is the most unusual at the club in many years.
“Club legend Derek Wilson told me about the last hole-in-one albatross at the club that he remembered which came 35 years ago on the 16th from the long-hitting Mike Batty, who he was playing against in a match.
“There was a bunker on the right of the green, which has since been claimed by the River Tame which Derek thinks was still there in 1983 – they thought the ball had finished in the bunker until they found it in the hole.
“We knew it was quite a while ago. Anyway, Derek Wilson, John Blakey and Arthur Cooper discussed it and it wasn’t until I spoke to Arthur that I got a definitive answer. Arthur said: “Yes, I can remember it was 1973, I was handicap chairman at the time, Mike Chandley was captain and I remember John O’Neill had a hole in one at the 9th on the same day, and I remember them splitting the pot.”
A Wednesday Stableford at Vale had division one seeing Derek Simpkins in charge with 36 points from Vinny Kilcullen and Peter Connolly, both 35.
In division two Steve Marsh ruled the roost with 36 one more than David Ibbotson and Tony Barnes and the main man in division three was Alan Booth with 35 points.
THE first round of the Jubilee Cup at Vale was led in by Vinny Kilcullen with 64 from Robert Little 65 and Ben McCumesky 66./ Vale ladies played a team trios and Mal Woodcock, Linsy Warburton and Sheila Cowlard led with 57 points.
A singles Stableford for Vale ladies was won by Denzell Hunt with 29 points.
The Avro ‘major’ for the Lancaster Trophy was won by David Ferguson after a cpo on 69 with Michael Thornber and Gary McGovern – with Peter Meddows, Lee Williams and Karl O’Sullivan just a shot off the pace.
A midweek medal at Bramall Park was won by Chris Fensom with 65 from club legend Kenny Thomson 67 and Steven head, Chris Daniels and Andy Curwen, all 68.
A Junior Stableford at Park was led in by Niall Curwen with 36 points, nine more than Alex Wilcock and Lewis Welch.
Jane Greenwood was the star on Lady Captain’s Day at Bramall Park with her neat 69 seeing her home from Laura Foster 70, Pat Hulme 71 and Pamela Ellison 72,
The Silver Jubilee Cup for Bramhall ladies had the four divisions topped by Rosemarie Horton 73, Pat Newall 71, Nicola Russell with a stunning 64 and Doris Kirwan 67.
Hazel Grove’s men played for the Jubilee Cup and top of the divisions were Roy Campion 67, Mark Stevens after a cpo on 67 with Richard Blain and Peter Simcock 66.
The Grove Lady Captain’s Prize to seniors was won by Andrew Johnston with 37 points, ahead of Michael Keyworth 36 and Nick Taylor 35.
Grove’s ladies were in medal action for the Lady Captain’s Prize and top of the divisions were Julie Jones after a cpo on 69 with Vivienne Hudson, Karen Rodgers 75 and Margaret Farrell 71.
It was close in the second round of the Devil at Houldsworth with four players going clickety click, with John Drabble getting the cpo nod from Dan McCoy, Wayne Doyle and Eric Wilkins.
Houldsworth ladies played a ‘major’ for the Memorial Cup and Patricia Bennett led in with 37 points from Elizabeth Fallows 34 and Barbara Gibbons 32.
Marple ladies were in medal mode with Glenda Conway in charge with 72, two less than Mary Gilbody and Elaine Jones.
Marple’s men played for the Victory Cup and in division Dillon McPhee won a cpo on 41 points from George Jones, one more than Shaun McDonnell. Vaughan Wolstenholme topped division two with 38 points, two more than Steve Gregory, Sam Thorneycroft and Liam Cash.
Stockport ladies played the fourth Round of the Torkington Bowl and Beverley Hall was top of the shop with 70 from Penny Murison 71 and Val Garrett and Chris Barber, both 74.
WALLASEY Golf Club, the home club of golfing great Sir Frank Stableford, were great hosts of the Cheshire County Championships for the ninth time and provided a perfect stage for some excellent golf from the county’s top players.
Magnificent weather, a fantastic links course and tricky wind conditions were matched by a stunning performance from home player, Josh McMahon, a member of the England A squad.
Josh set a stunning pace with his first three rounds all being five-under-par 67 to establish a huge lead over his rivals.
He also claimed the Darlington Trophy as the leading qualifier for the first 36 holes and went on to win the TPT Taylor Trophy as the leading Colt.
The final round was led in by Stockport’s Chris Chilton with 67 and Josh posted 73 for a final total of 274.
He finished ahead of Ben Hallam (Wychwood Park) who took the Israel Sidebottom Trophy as runner-up on 280 with Chris Chilton next in with 283.
Josh received the championship trophy from Cheshire President Chris Moore who gave thanks to all at Wallasey Golf Club for their superb efforts and to all of the county volunteers who put in some sterling work in trying conditions. Josh also received a champions dish for his victory and his county colours.
The president presented a county plaque in recognition of Wallasey’s hosting of the championship to their manager, John Mort, who said the his club would be delighted to host a future county championship.
Josh will now represent Cheshire in the English County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa in September.
Also representing Cheshire in the English Champion Club Tournament at Huddersfield in September will be Bramhall GC, who were the top team in the first two rounds, comprising Gareth Bradley, James Kempster and Ross Clewley.
They beat off the challenge from Sandiway’s Tom Duncalf, Chris Harrison and Grant Little.
He was so elated by the amazing occurrence he was unable to concentrate afterwards