Prestbury pipped in bid for Bell Cup
THE Manchester and District Ladies Golf Association was founded in 1902 and competition for the Bell Cup began in 2011.
Since then it has grown into probably the biggest inter club ladies knock out competition of its kind in the country and this year there was a terrific entry of 84 clubs fielding their top seven players in the singles match play format.
The competition began in March and reached its conclusion at Rochdale GC, the home club of MDLGA President Janet Collins.
The club, its members and staff, helped to make this a great day on an excellent course for the four teams competing in the morning semi-final and the afternoon final.
The semi-finals saw recent winners Prestbury and Sale go through as they beat Hindley Hall and Swinton Park respectively once they had chalked up four wins.
Taking Sale through with victories were Hilary Tarleton 3/2, Caroline Croxton 4/3, Moira Forster 3/2 and Sophia Casey also 3/2.
Winners for Prestbury were Gill Mellor 2/1, Josephine Harrison at the 19th, Tricia Hunt 5/4 and Monica Brewers 4/3.
The final has in recent years produced some dramatic finishes going right to the wire and this was no exception in a memorable competition which went to the 19th hole before victory was decided with a nervejangling 4/3 win to Sale.
At the mid-point Prestbury looked to have the edge and were given an early boost with a win for their team captain Gill Mellor.
The Caroline Croxton showed the famous Sale fighting spirit as she recovered from three down to level for Sale with a 3/2 win.
The lead was doubled with an impressive 7/6 win for Sophia Casey only for Ellen Cail to level the match with a 7/5 success and Lynn Cameron took Prestbury ahead with another convincing 6/4 victory.
So it was all eyes on the two remaining matches on the course and with Sale’s Tricia Alston winning 3/1 on the 17th it was over to the 19th after Sale’s Moira Forster and Jean Duncan had ended level on the 18th.
After Jean had posted a bogey five Moira was left with a tricky six-foot putt to hole for the match and she kept her nerve to hole it to the delight of the Sale team and their large band of supporters.
Sale had won the Bell Cup in 2005 in similar style on the 18th at Houldsworth and were ready for some great celebrations after their Lady Captain Linda Jenkinson was presented with the trophy by Janet Collins.
Janet thanked both teams for their terrific play and sportsmanship, all the helpers at Rochdale Golf Club for their hard work and paid a special tribute to Davyhulme Park stalwart Jackie Foy who is retiring from office after running the Bell cup for the past ten years.
Prestbury ladies played a Par competition for the Ferguson Bowl and Jennifer Purves waa a clear winner on +3 from Debbie Baker level par and Mary Staton -1.
Styal seniors were blowing hot in a singles Stableford led in with stunning scores by Robert Blower 45 points and Terry Jacobs 44.
A Wednesday medal at Styal had Mike Burchell first past the post with 63 from Max Penney 65 (gross 64) and Harrison Peck 66.
The Colin Richards Memorial prize at Styal was won by Sam Howell with 64 from Ryan Nevins 65 and Ian Thomason and Will Dodds, both 66.
Medal play for Styal ladies had Joan Andrews in charge with 68, five clear of Nancy Chorlton.
A Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall had a clear winner in Richard Burrow who carded 40 points to finish five ahead of Brian Wilkes.
The monthly Stableford at Shrigley had division one led in by Ian Wadsworth with 39 points and in division two Eamon McGeady was out on his own with 38.
Macclesfield ladies played for the President’s Prize and it was won by Myra Clark after a cpo on 75 with Wendy Higgins. Margaret Bray was next in on 76 and the Lady Captain had the best gross of 98.
BOLLINGTON UNITED WARRIORS UNDER 13S 12 STOCKPORT JUNIOR BLUES 4 GOAL SCORERS:
Zac Box (5), Josh Atkin (3), Alex Tynas (3), Ben Sneddon
Zac Box
MAN OF THE MATCH: CHEADLE & GATLEY 2 MACCLESFIELD PANTHERS UNDER 15S 4 GOALS:
OG
Joe Cobey (2), Rhyce Mallard,