Course change excites captain
STYAL Golf Club’s new captain Ivan Bloor is a constant presence at his club and he is looking forward to his year in office with great anticipation.
Ivan has been a member of his club for seven years and he puts being made captain as the highlight of his life in golf along with dropping his handicap from 20 to 14 in one season.
He said: “Styal Golf Club is a club with a fantastic future. We are at the moment in the transition period from the old course to a new one.
“The new holes that have been built are now fully open and add greatly to the course’s quality.
“If it was not for owner’s acumen we would not be in such a good position for the new season as the new course provides new challenges and will be just as enjoyable as the old course so roll on the new season.
“My favourite course, other than Styal is Santa Maria in the Costa del Sol and my favourite hole at Styal is the old sixth as the tee shot has to be long and straight so that your nest shot is not going over out of bounds and blind to a two-tier green with a bunker on the front edge.
“Golf is my only hobby, apart from supporting Manchester City, and my chosen charity is Stockport Specialist Palliative Care (Macmillan).”
Ivan showed his class winning the Landers Affen Prize medal after a cpo on 68 with Cheshire junior star Jacob Oakley, H Peck and Kevin Doherty.
A singles Stableford for Styal Ladies had Enid Laverty first past the post with 38 points from Claire Whitney37.
A Seniors Stableford at Styal was won by the aptly named Clive Senior with 41 points, two more than Wally Tibbitts, Howard Dickson and Mike Hinde.
Young star Max Penney shot a superb 64+1=64 in a Wednesday medal at Styal, five shots clear of David Murray and Ian Thomason.
Andrea Cheetham and Alycia Sutton will represent Macclesfield ladies in the regional round of the Coronation Foursomes after winning their club qualifier with 37 points from Sue Orwin and Judy Mutter and Lady Captain Anita Hall and Irene Newton, both 34.
Macc juniors played for the Pro’s Cup and after a cpo on 38 points it was won by Mitch Hodgson from Ben Unwin with George Wright and Tom Kirton hot on their heels with 37.
A Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall needed a cpo on 38 points to see Don Farquharson home from Charle Green and Mary Berry.
The Golden medal at Shrigley was won by Neil Wrigley with 67 a massive eight shots clear of the field.
Shrigley Hall have a great series of Open competitions during the summer months beginning with a Seniors Pairs on June 4 and a Team of Four Open on June 24.
There are great prizes on offer and for more details or to enter contact Tim Hudspith on thudspith@ thehotelcollection. co.uk or tel 01625 575757.
Mottam Hall are offering free memberships to juniors as part of its new QFairway club which is the country’s most flexible membership.
To find out more visit website www.QHotels. co.uk/Qfairway or call Jonny Chaisty the Director of Golf on 016125 822 153.
The preliminary round of the MDLGA Bell Cup has been completed and it is now down to the last 64 teams from an original entry of over 80 clubs.
A top local derby saw Alderley Edge win a thriller by 4-3 against Tytherington and they now face either High legh park or Accrington in round one.
Prestbury beat Blackburn 4-3 to earn a round one clash with Darwen and Davenport breezed through 6-1 against Didsbury and now face a tough clash with Ringway.
Through with byes are Macclesfield who visit Lowes Park and Styal who host Heaton Moor.
The penultimate Manchester Alliance fixture of the winter season had glorious weather and an excellent Mackenzie course at Hazel Grove as a full field played for the Leo Feeney Trophy.
Swinton Park professional Dave Smith and exCaptain Jimmy O’Reilly were fired up by the sun and posted a superb 45 points to claim the Leo Feeney Trophy for the first time in their club’s history.