Prestbury celebrating Bell Cup win
THE Manchester and District Ladies Golf Association have organised the Bell Cup competition since 1911 and it is one of the biggest Inter Club Ladies Team Knock Out competitions in the country with an entry of 85 clubs for this year’s competition.
To reach finals day for the last four teams is a great achievement for any club and this year the morning semi-finals featured Sandiway v Prestbury and Didsbury v Haydock Park at Bury Golf Club, the home club of MDLGA President Audrey Bird.
Haydock Park and Prestbury progressed to the final. Sue Harper opened Haydock’s account with a win against Gill Mellor but Prestbury showed their intent with wins from Josephine Harrison, Jean Duncan and Ellen Cail before Dawn Ogden reduced the arrears to 3-2 with two matches out on the course.
Emma Bolam had come in as a substitute for Prestbury in the final and with four holes left to play she was three down against Pauline Ellis.
Emma then won three holes in a row to take the match to the 18th and delighted her team mates as she kept her cool to win the hole and give Prestbury the trophy as the last match was conceded by Prestbury’s Lynne Cameron to Julie Pyke to give Prestbury victory by 4-3.
Macclesfield ladies endured some appalling weather conditions in an Invitation Turkey Trot and picking up the biggest birds were Myra Clark and her guest Maria Nixon (Knutsford) with 26 points three more than Gill Snelson and Rita Barton (Styal).
Macc’s men played a medal for the Captain’s Masters and Michael Oakes won a cpo on 67 from Liam Sommerton, one less than Tom Hollingworth and Colin Rodgers.
The President’s Day medal at Alderley Edge saw Gavin Elly in unstoppable form with his 62 taking him home from Ray Parker 65 and Steve Corfield 66.
Edge’s ladies were in medal mode with Alison Roberts first past the post with 80 from Celia Berent 81 and Wendy Rule 82.
A Saturday Stableford for Styal’s men had division one won on a cpo on 36 points by Mark Ashton from Jon Roper, one more than Sam Hall.
In division two it also needed a cpo on 36 points to give top spot to Matt Wilde from John McBryer.
A Sunday Open to All Styal Stableford had Tony Nabarro in firm control with 39 points from Derek Lamb 36 and Steve James 35.
The latest Seniors Winter League Stableford at Styal was won by Nick Gillings with 41 points from Paul Carr 39 and Keith Dawson 38.
A Winter Pair Stableford at Shrigley Hall had convincing winners in A Brennan and T Wrigley with 47 points, three more than C Wood and B Hancock.
Wilmslow’s men played a medal for the Jubilee Vase and Coburn Cup and it needed a cpo on 70 to see Tom Garner into top spot from Geoffrey Balchin and just a shot off the pace were Ian Mecrow and Reg Maddock.
Sale Golf Club survived some dreadful weather to allow a full Manchester Alliance Mixed Pairs field, including many local players to play for the Hancock Trophy.
Taking top honours in the BB Stableford were pro am winners Andy Palmer, the assistant professional at Chorley Golf Club, and his Chorley partner Steph Patterson who posted an excellent score of 42 points on a testing day to take back the Hancock Trophy to their club.
They saw off a strong challenge by Westhoughton’s Kieron Gaskell and Lynn Phillips who won a cpo on 41 points from Ollie Whiteley and Michelle Pretty (Bramall Park).