Grove juniors beat odds to claim title
LOWES Park Golf Club have hosted the Manchester Alliance’s BMW Junior Team Challenge final for many years and they again put on a great show on and off the course in a thrilling contest which went to the wire of the final hole.
BMW have been excellent sponsors of the competition for many years and they were represented by Mike Mason who presented the prizes to both finalists Crompton and Royton and Hazel Grove once an epic clash was concluded.
Over the years many juniors who have gone on to make their mark in county, national and professional golf have enjoyed competing in this competition.
Hazel Grove suffered a blow just prior to the competition when Thomas McCann had to pull out due a Covid problem and C and R took an early lead as Emily Halstead was awarded a walkover.
C and R doubled their lead as Niall Weldon beat Ollie Carroll 3/2 but close wins for Jamie Ernill by one up over Keaton Wright and Lucas Mathieson by 2/1 over Jack Pickering drew Grove level to leave all eyes on the finals match between C and R’s Lancashire junior Daniel Melling and Cameron Smail.
It was settled on the tense and final hole with Cameron winning by one up to take the coveted trophy back to Hazel Grove.
Back at Hazel Grove a Junior Stableford was won by Jayden Tommy with 41 from Jamie Ernill 38 and Lucas Mathieson and Jaxon Tuite, both 36.
Plenty of action at Reddish Vale with the penultimate Wednesday Stableford seeing Jason Leech virtually clinch the Golfer of The Year award as won division one with 41 and pick up nine OOM points.
The Captain took division two with 40 and Alan Finney posted 42 to win division three.
It was also a day to remember for four-handicapper Thomas Beswick, who was also in the OOM running.
He scored a neat 38 points with the highlight coming on the par three fourth hole where he secured his first-ever ace.
His clinical nine-iron tee shot went unerringly into the hole and was witnessed all the way by Thomas and his playing partner Tom Jackson.
Thomas has been waiting for this since he began his golf at the age of 11 and he also had a ‘two’ on the ninth hole.
He also had an unusual card as the gross scores included a one, a two, a three, a four and a five – but nothing higher than a five!
A Stableford at Reddish was won by Danny Wilkinson after a cpo on 40 with Bob Little and Graham Lees.
Next day a pro’s Stableford saw club legend David Hamilton with 42 from Timothy Crampton 40, Joe Pagett 39 and Jeanette Kinder 38.
The Gold Medal final for Bramhall’s men saw Joe Kirwan win round one with 66 from Brad Wilson 67 and in round two Ian Denby led in after a cpo on 69 with Paul Rigby.
A singles Stableford at Bramhall needed a cpo on 43 with Hugh Bilby winning it from Paul Adams and Lee Broome.
Bramhall ladies were in medal action and Linzi Webster led in with 70 from Caroline McGeorge 71 and Jane Sprowson won the 9-hole competition after a cpo on 10 with
Gill Gee. A Seniors 6x6x6 at Avro was won by the hot trio of Bob Collins, J Wetherell and Tim Bochenski with 75 from L Fowler, M Brooks, I Arthur and P Johnson, B Holt B Renshaw and J Isherwood, D Fortune and P Gudgeon, all 73.
Two major Aggregates at Marple have been decided and the Subscription Trophy was won by Jack Franks with 224 from soccer legend Craig Frisby 227 and Steve Cottrell 228.
The Walter Pike Trophy had a proud winner in Jack Taylor with 197 from Jack Miller 198 and Steve Cottrell 202.
The monthly medal at Marple had the divisions topped by Jack Miller 66, Dave Gillon with a stunning 61 and Phil Darragh 64.
A medal for Marple’s ladies was won by Kathryn Wilkinson with 72 from Pauline Davies 75 and Karen Graham 76.
A Wednesday Stableford at Hazel Grove had David Stewardson top division one after a cpo on 37 with Ian Walters, one more than John Tetlow, Stewart Morgans and Kenneth Thorman.
Ronald Harrop was out on his own in division two with 37 from club legend Bill Dootson 35.
A medal for Grove’s ladies had the divisions topped by Christine Jones after a cpo on 73 with June Dawson, Wilma Milton 69 and Kathleen Edwards 75.
A Stableford at Houldsworth was won by Peter Robertson with 39, three more than Sean McCorkell, Joseph Kelly, Jon Milner, John Dorsi and Jack Emmanuel.
The overall winner of the ‘major’ Houldsworth Classic was Andrew Hurst with 140 ahead of Michael Goodwin 143.
Stockport’s men played their Daily Mail Foursomes qualifier and representing the club in 2022 will be N Stretton and M Hamspon who posted 67.0 to finish ahead of A Edmunds and C Byrne 68 and J and R Jassim 69.
Stockport ladies played their Autumn Meeting medal and in division one Laura Murison led in with 77 from Gill Hudson 79.
Liz Carson won division two with 77 and the Stableford competition was led in by Gerry Snook 15 from Irene Ferris and Diane Jowsey, both 10.