Moor skipper Steve marks historic day
THE Captain’s DriveIn at Heaton Moor Golf Club was a very special and historic day for the club as well as for new Captain Steve Littlewood.
It was his 70th birthday and also 50 years since his father was the Captain of the club but history was made as it was the first time in the 126-year history of the cub that the Captain and Lady Captain had driven off together.
Previously the Lady Captain had come in to office in October and the Captain followed six months later to cause continuous confusion about which was the Lady Captain’s Captain during their period of office.
This was scrapped in October 2018 and the new Lady Captain Carole Wheeler waited six months until she could take office at the same time and following the drive-in there was an enjoyable competition featuring both ladies and men.
Steve set the tone for a memorable day by being driven into the Captain’s parking slot in a yellow Lamborghini Urus worth £225,000 with a one-year waiting list for purchase then he joined Carole and President Peter Massey for the drive-in.
Following the golf Steve had thrown his birthday party in the club for members and friends and he was taken by surprise as he had been set up by former Captain Roy Cooke and various friends for a very lively ‘This is Your Life’ session.
Steve said: “What a day it turned out to be! I have been a member of the club for 57 years and this was truly special for myself, my family and the club.
“My lowest handicap was eight, now 22, and my other favourite course is Prestbury.
“My favourite holes at Heaton Moor are the 12rh and 14th, both 400-yard plus par fours and I have had eagle ‘Twos’ on both of them plus another golfing highlight being a holein-one on the fourth.
“I used to play squash and tennis and support Manchester United and my chosen Captain’s charities are St Ann’s Hospice and Francis House.
“My chosen three play
ers in a four-ball would be Sir Bobby Charlton, Eric Sykes and Douglas Baderfor obvious reasons!
“It will be a great year at the club where our new golf team are improving everything on and around the course and myself, Carole and Peter are looking forward with great anticipation.
The Crowther Trophy at Heaton Moor was won by Alan Mottershead on +4 from Anthony Spellman and David Howes, both +3.
Moor’s ladies played a singles Stableford and in top spot with 36 points was Susan Quiligotti from Margaret Judkins 35, Georgina Clapperton 34 and Lyndsay Alexander, Margaret Armison, Judy Collins and Suzanne Sutherland, all 33.
The Opening medal at New Mills saw Tony Jennison go clickety click to top division one, two less than Jake Unsworth and Jack Marshall.
In division two Andy Rodgers was out on his own with 63, six less than Tony Hall.
New Mills ladies were also in medal mode and Josephine Coull led in with 69 from Jean Taylor 76 and Maureen Harrison 78.
Mellor and Townscliffe ladies played a singles Stableford and Lesley Howarth was first past the post with 35 points from Anne Verity 33 and Alison Davies 32.
M and T’s men were also in Stableford action and in division one Steve Roberts won a cpo on 39 points from Mark Hanson and in division two it also needed a cpo on 39 points to see Stephen Cropper home from S Ebbage.
A singles bogey for Romiley’s men was won by Pater Kimber on +4 from Doug Mills, Mark Craven, Keith Selby, Elliot Simmonds and Andrew Jackson, all +1.
A singles Stableford for Romiley ladies was led in by Frances West with 38 points, three more than Jane McRoberts.
Cheadle ladies played their first medal of the season and it needed a cpo on 71 to take Susan Shaw ahead of Maire Eaton, closely followed on 72 by Brenda Peak and Beverley VanRoss.
Cheadle’s men were also in medal mode and in division one Michael Daniels was top of the tree with 62 from James Hall 63 and Duncan Clarkson and Andrew Roe, both 64.
In division two Nigel Day was a clear winner on 61, three less than Jay Dempsey.
The Winter League finale at Disley was a Pairs medal and the dynamic duo of Tony Collinson and Dave Stephenson were out of their own with 56.3 from Phil Leadbetter and Ian Ridgway 60 and C Jenkinson and B Osborne 62.
Disley ladies were in Stableford action and Elizabeth Critchlow was unstoppable with 38 points, five more than Gaynor Calvert, Bi Suk Knowles and Gill Dawson.
A singles Stableford for Gatley’s men meeded a cpo on 37 points to take Brett Seery ahead of Phil Rodman, one more than Colin Miller.
Worsley Marriott Golf Club provided its usual stunning stage for the latest Manchester Alliance competition sponsored by Denton, Lancashire and England golf legend Bob Bardsley of Footjoy.
The day was dominated by Lymm assistant professional Graham Cox with an unstoppable double success.
Cox scorched round in ten under par to post a huge 46 Stableford points to finish seven clear of Ollie Smith (Ashton-onMersey), Phil Archer (Poulton Park) and Scott Howarth (Davenport).
It was the second highest individual pro score since Craig Corrigan’s record-breaking win at Romiley in September..
Cox’s Dukinfield partner Barry Lees added two more points to their total with their 48-pointer taking them five clear of Ollie Smith and Josh Lee, Craig Corrigan and Mark Riley (Leigh) and Scott Howarth and Peter Botterman (Stockport).
It was much closer in the am am section with Ellesmere’s Steve Cocker and Tony Callan leading in with 45 points closely followed by Mark Window (Styal) and Gary Boott (Denton) 44 and Mark Gauci (Chorlton) and John Aikenhead (Ashtonon-Mersey) 43.
Ashton-on-Mersey’s immaculate course and new spike bar provided a great day for the finals of the Manchester Alliance’s Scratch Matchplay finals for professionals and assistant professionals.
The day began with the semi-finals of the main competition and in a terrific match that went to the 20th hole Davyhulme Park professional Martyn Hamer took out title holder Phil Archer of Poulton Park.
The other semi-final provided a more comfortable victory for Chorlton assistant professional Alistair Waddell over Alderley Edge professional Charles le Sueur who played well from tee to green but missed too many putts to make it through.
Also in action in the morning session were Jamie Howarth (Davenport) against home pro Ollie Smith in the battle for the assistant professional’s trophy with Howarth prevailing by two holes.
The afternoon final saw Alistair Waddell in unstoppable form as he cruised to a 5/4 victory to take the coveted title for the second time in recent years.