Winner Sam is on course with stars
WILMSLOW Golf Club’s Junior captain Sam Proctor was a proud winner of the Robinson Trophy in his club’s Junior Open.
There were more than 50 quality boy and girl juniors in the field from across the region but fivehandicapper Sam posted a nett 66 to win from club mate Terry Mackenzie, 67, Ryan McCandless (Crewe), 68, and Will Lucas (Styal) and Edward Reed (Royal Birkdale), both on 70.
Sam made it a double as he also had the top gross score of 71 which saw him clear of Will Dodds (Styal) 73 and Will Lucas (Styal) 75.
In the U15 age group Ryan McCandless led in with 68 from Will Lucas and Edward Reed, both 70, and the top girl was Victoria Turner of Delamere Forest with 73.
Some of the youngsters also had a chance to pose with the Everton FC international quartet of Gareth Barry (a Wilmslow member), Phil Jagielka, Tom Cleverley and Stephen Naismith, who were enjoying a round on the fabulous Wilmslow course after the juniors had gone out.
Styal Golf Club junior Daniel Hayes made his mark at the recent Cheshire Junior Boys Championships at Wirral Ladies GC by becoming the youngest-ever player to take part in this prestigious tournament at the age of eight.
His style, confidence and ability brought great admiration from the Cheshire GA officials and they rewarded him with some balls for his stylish round of 91-24-67.
But success at golf has long been a feature of his sporting life to date for the pupil at Pownall Hall School.
His father Mike said: “Daniel started playing at the age of two – I know that this sounds really young but he had a decent swing even back then.
“He used to hit plastic toy clubs around the house before I got him some US Kids Clubs (smallest set) at the age of tow.
“We would then go to the driving range and he would play small par three courses at Adlington and Styal.
“I put a clip of him on You Tube playing at Bruntwood pitch and putt course in Cheadle still aged two which now has nearly 7,000 views.
“I noticed that he had great eye-hand co-ordination when he used to hit his plastic clubs and as he enjoyed doing this we introduced him to golf.
“I used to play at Cheadle GC and got down to a five handicap, however I rarely play these days as I enjoy walking round with Daniel and helping him with his golf.
“He won the Wee Won- ders National final (six and under age group) at St Andrews in 2013 and then had a top five finish in the US Kids European Championships in Scotland in 2014 (seven and under group).
“This qualified him for the US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina, where he is the only player from mainland UK in the u8 section with roughly 120 players from 24 countries playing in his age group.
“His current golfing idol is Jordan Spieth and he also admires Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and he managed to pick up Tiger’s ball after the fourth round of the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool GC last year.”
Styal juniors played for the Ralph Bullock Cup and it was won by Daniel Lynch with 66, two less than Sam Hall.
A Wednesday medal at Styal was won by Lee Mayoh with 66 but he was chased all the way by Harrison Peck and Jacob Oakley who finished a shot off his hot pace.
The President’s Prize at Alderley Edge saw a great return of 61 from K Doyle secure a comfortable win by four shots from Chris Regan and Ben Gaunt.
Edge’s ladies played a singles Stableford with Olwen Davies first past the post with 39 points from Celia Berent 37 and Helen Edwards 35.
Macclesfield ladies played a Flag competition won by Alycia Sutton who reached the 18th tee with Kath Brocklehurst next in on the 17th and the best score over 18 holes came from Jill Hunter-Blench.
A Stableford for Macc’s men had Tom Hollingworth leading in with 40 points, one more than Thomas Kirton.
A Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall was won by Jez Hancock with 38 points, one more than Howard Rowley and Don Farquharson.
It was close in the battle for the President’s Prize at Shrigley with Joe Cassidy winning a cpo on 67 from David Wells with Andy Barstow and Charlie Wood next in with 69’s.
The Manchester and District Golf Alliance, the biggest organisation of its kind in the country, begins its new winter season on Wednesday, September 9, at Dunham Forest Golf Club with the Robert Wax Trophy being played for.
The Alliance winter season runs through until April 27, next year, with the President’s Day at Withington Golf Club seeing the Order of Merit prizes for professionals and amateurs being decided.
The captain for the new season is Doug Craig of Davyhulme Park GC who has been the Alliance secretary for a number of years and he is succeeded in his role by Ian Hales of Chorlton Golf Club.
Doug said: “It has been a great experience being the secretary of such a great golfing community with over 110 clubs within a 35-mile radius of Manchester town hall being members and I am honoured to be the Alliance Captain for the next year.
“We have seen in the region of 40 professionals and many amateurs play in our weekly competitions in recent seasons and all members of our member clubs are eligible to play in them plus two mixed competitions and our summer Inter Club KO competitions and joining the Alliance spirit of friendship through golf.
“To find out more fixtures, entry details check out www.mdga.org.uk.
“Our other fixtures in September are at Disley, Didsbury for the new Bert Thompson Trophy, and Haydock Park plus the finals for the Dunham Forest KO Trophy and the Archie Preston Mixed KO Trophy at Houldsworth.” crowd was so loud you couldn’t hear yourself think,” she said.
“Training was great and with the new rules we’ve all been learning new tactics, which has been enjoyable.
“We also had to work hard on our fitness as there was a lot more swimming involved, but it’s been great.”
Huck is trained on the GB squad by coach Theo Nousios, and he believes Rosie and several other members of the side have a bright future ahead of them.
“The squad has a great mix of talent and we have strength throughout the team,” he said.
“We have some stronger players who can score from tight situations more effectively and players who can exploit the space better with their speed and ability to turn quickly.
“With these type of players we can adapt to any game scenario and find a solution to whatever is put in front of us.”