Warm welcome for new Lady Captain Gill
MACCLESFIELD Golf Club’s new Lady Captain Gill Evans was given a warm welcome by club members and friends, along with Captain Clive Howlett, President Mark Warren and Junior Captain Aiden Rooza, on their way to the first tee for the traditional Captain’s Drive-In.
Gill, who has been a member of her club for 24 years lives locally and is a retired Coronary Care nurse.
“She said:”I am looking forward to a great, enjoyable and sociable year on and off the course on a good and challenging course and a superb ’members’ club.
“My best handicap was 23.7, which is what it is now, and my personal golfing highlight was my first ’major’ win- the 36-hole competition and getting my name in gold letters on the competition board.
“My favourite hole at Macc is the seventh because it has the best views and is called ‘Seven Shires’ for obvious reasons.
“My other favourite courses are Harleyford, Buckinghamshire, and the Hamilton Island Golf
Club, Dent Island and Whitsunday Islands in Australia.
“My chosen charity for the year is The Alzheimers Society- unfortunately my Mum had dementia – it’s an incredibly cruel disease and I want to try and make a difference for the future.
“The Captain has chosen the local Macclesfield charity ROAR- Reach Out and Recover.
“Finally my chosen players to join me in a four-ball would be
Tommy Fleetwood- I think he’s lovely and he would be a good laugh. Anna Nordquist I think she’s d be a really good calming influence and finally my husband Derek because I wouldn’t want him to miss out on the experience.”
The final Winter Stableford for Macc’s ladies was won by Sarah Wild, enjoying the benefits of her new driver, after a cpo on 28 with Kay Atkin from Judy Mutter, who won a cpo on 26 from Julia Dunne
Macclesfield‘s men played round eight of the Winter League and Martin Perry picked up some useful points leading in with 33 from Chris Hawkins 32 and
Bryan Justin 31.
Plenty of action at Avro with the Winter League and Stableford won by Andy Withington 41 from Roy Whalley and Curtis Fisher, both 38.
It was close in the Wednesday Roll up with Colin Quinn winning a cpo on 37 from the ever consistent Neil Flood.
A Seniors Texas Scramble had the hot trio of K Morrison, C Burnett and J Wetherell on top with 47, one more than I Anderson, T Bochenski and A Wright.
Avro ladies were back in action a singles Stableford topped by Sylvia Christelow35, one more than Janet Scull and Kirsty Balderson.
The 9-hole winner was Hazel James 16, three more than Helen Jervis.
Alderley Edge ladies played a 9-hole medal and a cpo on 37 was won by Jean Walker from Janette Smith and hot on their heels were Lesley Fowler 38 and Angela Atkinson and Sue Kendrick, both 39.
A Seniors 15-hole Stableford at Styal saw Paul Hill win a cpo on 25 from Stephen Atherton, two more than David O’Brien and former cricket legend Dave Rice.
A 12-hole Shotgun
Texas Scramble at Styal had the hot trio of M Trainor, T Harrop and O McCall firing on all cylinders with 30.0 from M Henshall, M Darricotte, C and M Thompson and G Stevens, L Cullen, L Davis and N Heyes both 33.
It was wall-to wall smiles from a full field of over 130 players as they enjoyed a sunny day and a course drawing deserved praise from all of the players.
Vale Royal Abbey’s scenic course, with a very historic and spectacular clubhouse, is handily
placed in the middle of Cheshire and hosts many top competitions.
Their scenic and challenging course was in fantastic condition, after the recent awful weather clubs have endured in recent months, being superbly presented with smooth greens and the quality provided was reflected with some great scoring.
Leading the way in individual pro section was Alliance legend Phil Archer (Poulton Park) joining Andy Palmer
(Chorley) in top spot on 42 points, two more than Phil Kelly.
Phil Archer made it a double as he partnered club colleague Rob Wolf to top spot in the pro-am section with a great haul of 45.
Chasing them hard in a cpo on 44 were Scott Howarth (Davenport) and Mike Lamb (Bramhall), Gabe Bagshawe and MDGA Captain Don Milligan (Ashton-onMersey) and Stand’s dynamic duo of Mark Hancock and Gareth
Mawdsley).
In the am-am section former amateur OoM winner Bob Barrow (Flixton) and Keith Middleton (Flixton) were clear winners with a best-of-the-day 46 from Darren Tickle and Stephen Lloyd (Blackley) 43, two more than Stamford’s reliable double act of Ian Fearns and
Steve Finan.
The nearest the pin prize went to Poulton Park’s Tom Butterworth to completed another good day for their club.