Bramhall host special Pro Am
BRAMHALL Golf Club were great hosts for the annual Andrew Murray Charity Pro Am which has been running for 27 years at a variety of clubs and this one had special significance for Andrew.
It was where he linked up with Brian Neild who was the professional at Didsbury Golf Club until 1971 before moving to be the pro at Bramhall for over 30 years.
Brian taught Andrew at the age of 10 at Didsbury then took him on as his assistant pro for five years before embarking on his EuropeanTour Career.
Brian has been a great mentor and friend to Andrew for over 52 years and he was delighted that Brian could attend the day where he presented him with a special memento from the PGA for his 69 years as a member.
Andrew’s charity pro ams have seen over £350,000 raised over the years and the event at Bramhall added another £25,000 with the money shared by Together Trust, Aspire and Prostate Cancer.
As usual there were some famous names in the field as well as top regional professionals and they included Mark Chapman and John Inverdale for the BBC and Gordon Brand.
Andrew gave a massive thank you to all the supporters of the Pro Am, many have been with him from day one and also special thanks to the European Tour, the PGA and all Andrew’s personal sponsors for their support year on year.
The top pro’s on the day were Jamie Howarth 66 and Ben Stanier, Gary Houston and Ollie Whiteley all 69.
Andrew also thrived on the course as his AMG team of Matt Eagle, Tony Lloyd and Mark Chapman were in top spot on 88 points from the European Building Materials team of Jason Dransfield, Mike Emmerson, John Adams and John Lambert with 86.
AVRO’s Men played a midweek Stableford and Philip Oakes was out on his own with 34 points from Neil Flood 31 and Bernard Connor and Graham Turnock, both 30.
A Texas Scramble at AVRO was won by the fab four of Michael Thornber, Mark Brookes, Philip Oakes and Phil Normanton with 55.7 from Stephen Callaghan, Ian Hallworth, Neil Flood and Tim Bochenski.
A singles Stableford at Bramall Park had Alex Boyd in a league of his own with 46 points from Chris Wright 42 and Darren Staff and David Bailey, both 40.
Park’s ladies played an End of Season Team Bash and the hot trio of Michelle Pretty, N Williams and F Hilton led in with 76 points, three more than B Jones, Hazel Tunnicliffe and C Gillespie, J Pimlott, Judy Read and B Seed, H Dodd, C Tate and F Swarbrick and L Seddon, S Bradford and P Cook.
Bramhall’s men played a two division Stableford and in division one Thomas Bell was first past the post with 40 points from Frank Kaminski 39 and Gareth Lewis 38.
In division two Paul Adams won a cpo on 35 points from Nigel Davies, Richard Ellis and Robert Stewart.
Bramhall ladies played a four division medal and topping the divisions were Ali Hicks 70, Linda McKenzie 74, Joanna Lingwood 77 and Beryl Galloway after a cpo on 81 with Jan Johnston.
The Assistant Pro’s Stableford at Hazel Grove was won by Ian Martin with 40 points, one more than Robert Sutherland, Ian Walters and Philip Baines, Grove’s ladies were also in Stableford action with Kathryn Wardle-Davies leading in with 36 points from Hilary Hill 34, Karen Rodgers 33 and Loranne Harrison, and Margaret Morley, both 32.
The Procter Trophy at Heaton Moor was won by Paul Hesford with 65, one less than Steve Prinn and Michael Rothwell.
Houldsworth’s men played for the Autumn Cup and Graham Bardsely was unstoppable with 63 from David Conville 65 and Paul McCallum and Steve Richardson, both 66.
A singles Stableford for Houldsworth ladies was won by Audrey Somers with 31 points, just one clear of Barbara Gibbons and Elizabeth Fallows.
The October medal for Marple’s men had Cornelius Musanda in chrge of division one with 64 from Steven Simpson and John Tennant, both 66.
In division two Liam Cash was the main man with 64 ahead of Jonathan Vaisey 68 and Walter Derry and Robert Wilkinson, both 69.
Pat McAlhone showed her class for Marple ladies winning a singles Stableford with 36 points ahead of Jean Colclough 35 and Jean Oates 33.
It was close in a BB Stableford for Stockport’s men with J Bolt and M Whitham winning a cpo on 46 points from E Frost and J Pannell with Andrew Mooney and Ian Kells and D Williams and A Booth both two points off the pace.
Craig Corrigan, who coaches at the Chilli Dip facility, has been a regular in Manchester Alliance competitions for many years where he has been a model and consistent player with plenty of success.
He struck a golden streak in the recent Alliance competition at Romiley Golf Club where he posted a fantastic individual haul of 47 points to lead in the pro section with an 11-under-par 59.
He combined with his playing partner Mark Riley (Leigh) for a 49-point haul to also top the pro am section.
Craig’s card included birdies on the second, fifth, ninth, 14th, 15th and 16th holes plus eagles on the seventh, 10th and 13th with just one bogey.
His previous best individual score was 62 at Wilmslow GC in 1994 which was ten under par.
Alliance officials have been scouring their records and can confirm that Craig’s score was a new record for the competitions and he was congratulated by Alliance Vice President Ian Brooks who stated that –‘Craig proves that form is temporary and class is permanent!’
The round does not count as a course record at Romiley as some of their tees were not off the full length of the hole but the club offered Craig their congratulations on a great achievement.