Youths shine over matchplay course
NORTHENDEN Golf Club were great hosts for the Cheshire Matchplay Championships providing a well prepared and challenging course backed by their superb new clubhouse and great offcourse hospitality and organisation.
The competition got off to a great start as Lewis George, the former county junior champion back from his US college course, set the first day alight by setting a new course record of 63.
He showed his intent with birdies on the first three holes and added another on the fifth with a first nine of 32.
Lewis kept up the momentum with birdies on four of the first five holes after the turn and another on the 16th made it nine birdies and nine pars to break the previous record of 65.
This had been set by Northenden’s senior star David Nelson in 2002 and as he was playing in the parallel Seniors Matchplay competition he was on hand to congratulate Lewis on his great round.
Lewis led the qualifiers after posting a second round of 73 to finish three clear of Sandiway’s Rhys Nevin-Wharton and Max Rogers (Astbury), who were the only players to beat par.
In the Seniors matchplay it was down to the last eight after the qualifying rounds saw a strong Mersey Valley presence with Northenden’s Tim Christie, defending champion David Nelson, Mike Campbell (Didsbury), Richard Mallard (Chorlton) and Mobi Rawthore (Sale) all in the mix.
The knock-out rounds in the main competition saw Lewis George ease through into the last four where he faced Prestbury teenager Tom Kirton (pictured in action)and in the other semi-final Chris Chilton (High Park) took on Cheshire team colleague Rob Cull (Bromborough).
Chilton always had the edge and kept his nerve to win 2/1 to make his first final.
The other semi provided the usual drama that matchplay can bring to golf as George held a slender lead against a very composed opponent who drew level on the 17th and then halved the 18th to take to tie into extra-time.
Both played superb recovery shots on the 19th to halve the hole and on the par five 20th Tom Kirton provided a big upset with his birdie taking him through to the final.
In the final Chris Chilton used his extra experi- ence to good effect to take the title with a 2/1 win over a young player who had enjoyed a great tournament.
The Seniors competition saw Mobi Rawthore reach his first final as he won 2/1 over Tim Christie while David Nelson showed his class with a 5/4 win over Richard Mallard.
Nelson proved to be unstoppable in the final as he retained his title with a comfortable 5/3 win.
The Handicap Matchplay Championship featured the top eight players who had not qualified in the Championship and it was won by Crewe’s Lewis McNicholas who won a close contest by one up against Paul Galt (Pren- ton). A great five days of golf enjoyed by players, supporters and organisers at a fine golfing venue.
Prestbury’s men played 36 holes for the club championship and the early pace was set by Thomas Hollingworth after he won a cpo on nett 72 from Kenneth Williamson with Iain Burnage, Donald Campbell and John Bianchi all a shot off the pace,
In round two Brian Leatherbarrow won a cpo on 70 from Simon Bolam and also in the frame on 72 were Matthew Salt and Matthew Gardner.
The championship was won by Matthew Gardner with his 145 total taking him clear of Brian Leatherbarrow 147 and Kenneth Williamson 148.
Prestbury ladies were in par mode and in division one Carol Hulme won a cpo on +3 from Margaret Simons.
In division two Barbara Newport was the only one to beat par on +1 with Tracy Titchen, Margaret Allen and Joan Crouch all on -1.
Alderley Edge ladies played the Coronation Foursomes and J Ricketts and A Roberts cruised to victory with 37 points from C Davies and S Freeman 34 and O Davies and L McGuire 33.
It was tight in division one in a medal at Wilmslow with four players locked on 69.
Getting the nod in the cpo was Graham Baker from Greg Dobbie, Gary Brebner and Jonathan Williams.
In division two Malcolm Pike was out on his own with 69 from Iain Perkins 70 and Roger Langley 72.
In the Yellow Tee medal John Eardley led in with 73 from Gavin Donald 74 and Derek Cox 80.
The Lady Captain’s Prize medal at Wilmslow was won by Susan Warburton with a neat 68 seeing her first across the line from Sally Kay 69 and Wendy Wynn 70.
The Seniors May medal at Macclesfield was won by John Sherwood as his 67 took him two shots clear of Mark Findlow, Bill Williams and Tim Robinson.
Davenport’s men played for the Kennerley Salver and in division one a cpo on 68 was won by David Salter from Nick Parker.
Division two honours were taken by David Barron with his 67 seeing him clear of Steve Travis 68 and John Sturmey 69.
In division three Stuart Scott won a cpo on 69 from Peter Cook, one less than Don Bailey.
Steve Darcy was a clear winner in a Wednesday Stableford at Mottram Hall with his 38-pointer taking him five clear of Sue Gaffney and Gary Jacques.
The Monthly Stableford at Shrigley Hall had division one won by Jack Gaskell with 40 points from Andrew Barstow 38 and John Stewart 37.
In division two Callum Atkinson was also out on his own with 41 points from Howard Stringer 39 and Michael Lisle 38.
A Sunday ‘Open to All’ Stableford at Styal was won by Nick Edge with 37 points, two more than Steve Massey and Jim Aspin. A White Tee qualifying medal for Styal’s men was won by Harry Wilks who went clcikety clik to finish two shots clear of Ian Cole and Gordon Hamilton.
A Wednesday Stableford at Styal was dominated by Stuart Lumsden with a massive 43 points taking him four clear of Simon Tracey.
Styal ladies were in medal mode and Sue Grange showed her class with her 67 taking her six shots clear of Mel Hill and Olivia Brewster.
Geoff Sable has been involved with golf for 27 years and he is looking forward with great anticipation to the coming year as Captain of the Manchester and District Golf Captains with plenty of exciting events to look for- ward to in a busy year.
Geoff said: “My golfing career began in 1990 when I joined Whitefield GC having completed the London Marathon two weeks previously.
“After initial difficulties I managed to achieve a handicap of 12 which I maintained for some ten years – but as I have got older the more I realise how good I used to be with my current handicap now being 20.
“In 2000 I became the Millennium Captain of Whitefield, accompanied by my wife Lynda as Lady Captain and in 2008 I was given the honour of becoming the President of the North West Manchester Golf Captains (NWMGA).
“In 2003 we moved to south Manchester and joined Dunham Forest GC, a sister club to Whitefield where I hold fond memories and still maintain many friendships.
“I am looking forward to my year as Captain of Manchester Captains especially my Captain’s Day at Dunham Forest, the Invitation Day at Whitefield and our twoday event in the North East against the Northumberland Captains.
“My role will also give me the opportunity of playing with and meeting new members and becoming a member of the Manchester Captains has certainly added to my enjoyment of golf where the camaraderie is second to none.”
Lewis George set the first day alight by setting a new course record of 63