Homesters take Victory Trophy
STOCKPORT Golf Club were great hosts for the County Foursomes championships with a good quality field aiming to win the Prestwick Trophy for the best gross score and the Victory Trophy for the best nett played over 36 holes.
But heavy rain before and during round one saw the competition reduced to 18 holes despite the best efforts of the Stockport green staff.
Crewe pair John Kendall and Robert Reid cruised to victory in the Prestwick Trophy posting a fine gross score of 71 to finish four shots clear of county team regulars Mike Harrington (Prestbury) and Ashley Sage (Sandiway).
Local knowledge paid off in the Victory Trophy with home pair Andrew Mooney, the Stockport vice captain, and Ross Gregory leading in with nett 72 ahead of Didsbury’s Dave Young and Neil Forster 73.5. The trophies were presented to the winners by Stockport Captain Les Jowsey.
A Midweek Stableford for Stockport’s men was won by Darren Whiteley with 37 points, two more than Paul Rhodes, Phil Kay and Mark Caine.
Lady Captain’s Day at Stockport had Barbara Kay in top spot with 40 points from Mary Williamson 38 and Natasha Brown 37.
In the subsidiary 9-hole Stableford Joy Bassil led in with 17 points.
Bramall Park’s men played their monthly medal and in division one it needed a cpo on 68 to see Paul Bergin into top spot from Jonathan Bradley and Alan Boswell.
In division two John Keenan won a cpo on 69 from Steve Jones while Noel Wilson was out on his own in division three with 64, two less than Ray Costello.
The Junior President’s Prize at Bramall Park was won by Jamie Donohue with a great haul of 45 points, four more than Niall Curwen.
Park’s juniors also played for the Liam Burgess Preo prize and it was won by Nathan Hopley with 69 from Niall Curwen 70 and Thomas Rawson 71.
Park’s ladies were in medal mode and topping the three divisions were Donna Macintosh 73, Pam Pigott 74 and Jill Thomas 79.
Bramhall’s men played a singles Stableford and in division one Richard Coulson was top of the shop with 41 points, two more than Andrew Bryden, Simon Hemsley and David Detheridge.
Division two’s hot shot was Robert Higginbotham with 39 points, two more than Charlie Rooney.
Bramhall juniors played over two rounds for the Claret Jug and in round one Ryan Owen won a cpo on 67 from Freddie Higginbotham, four less than Joshua Jennings.
Round two had Mackenzie Yates leading in with 65 from Jack Bent 68.
The overall winner was Ryan Owen with 137 from Mackenzie Yates 139 and Freddie Higginbotham 140.
Hazel Grove’s men played a Stableford for the Andy Vause Prize and it was won with 41 points by Duncan Cocker from Mark Redfern 38 and Ian Barwell, Peter Glichrist and Ray Campion, all 37.
Grove’s ladies played for Madam President’s Prize and the proud winner going clickety click was Indu Ghelani, one less than Pamela McGahan and Deborah Wilson.
Houldsworth’s men played their Devil’s Final and club legend Peter Burgess led in with 67, two less than Nigel Thompson and Leonard Crompton.
The Centenary Trophy medal at Houldsworth needed a cpo on 69 to see Liam Hackney into top spot from Stephen Henderson.
A ladies medal at Houldsworth was won by Editha Sellars with 75 from Deborah Hewitt and Elizabeth Fallows, both 78.
Marple’s men played round two of their 36-hole Stableford and division one was won by Jason Sullivan with 39 points, four more than Rob Meikle, Jeff Crowder and Stuart Mellish.
In division two Chris O’Leary won a cpo on 34 points from John Rogers.
The overall winners from the two rounds were Stuart Mellish in division one with 76 points and Sam Thorneycroft in division two with 72.
Marple ladies played for the Millenium Trophy, won in style by Gail Brady with 65 from Linda Rogers 74 and Linda Field and Jackie Bircham, both 75.
Reddish Vale’s men played round five of the Joey Jones competition and Phil Reeves won a cpo on 37 points from Colin Farrow, one more than Paul Bruckshaw.
It also needed a cpo on 70 in division one of a Wednesday medal at Vale with Martin Hall taking top spot from Vinny Kilcullen.
Andrew Young topped division two with 71 from Ian Doyle 73 and in division three Pat Weadick led in with 68, one less than Bob Little.
Vale’s ladies were in two Stablefords with Sheila Cowlard winning an 18-holer with a fine haul of 39 points and in a 9-holer Sheila Brookes led in with another good score of 23.
Last year Cheshire were the first county in England to stage a 9-hole championship which proved to be a great success at Alderley Edge Golf Club with entries open to men, ladies and juniors of the Cheshire clubs The Edge Captain Bill Fisher, who recently won the England Captain of Captains title, was the first winner of the championship and he returned to Hale Golf Club to defend his title.
Hale provided a fine course and excellent hospitality enjoyed by all of the players and in a close finish just a point separated the top five players.
In a cpo on 21 points Nick Barrowclough (Alderley Edge) took top spot ahead of James Eaton (Hartford) to take the title back to Alderley Edge Golf Club. Nick thanked all at Hale for providing an excellent course and his delight at winning the competition. He was presented with his trophy by Cheshire President elect Andrew Henshall (Wilmslow Golf Club) who also paid tribute to everyone at Hale and the players for another very enjoyable and well contested competition.
The venue for next year’s championship will be announced in the near future.