EXCITING TIMES: Looking forward to their big year in charge are the Lady Captains of our local golf clubs, left to right, back: Joyce Beech (Oldham) and Hazel Rogerson (Saddleworth). Front: Brenda Jarvis (Werneth), Chris Rimmer (Crompton and Royton) and Margaret Coleman (Brookdale) pictured at the Oldham Ladies Golf Association annual meeting.

Golf round-up by TONY BUGBY

WERNETH’S qualifier for the Chronicle Cup produced some extraordinary scoring, with winner Ian Sutton firing a one-under-par gross 67 for a 14-under nett 54.

And 15-year-old Jack Suttie, who was second, shot a five-under-par gross 63 for a nett 56.

Third-placed Joe Cassidy returned a level par gross 68 for nett 60, while fourth spot went to 82-year-old Eric Smith with 83-21-62.

Steve McNamara and Duncan Hough were the victors in an American greensome with a score of 65-5.6-59.4 from Paul Rowbotham and John Armstrong (67-5.25-61.75).

Paul Butler landed President’s Prize at OLDHAM with a two-round return of 129 nett which comprised 71-5-66 and 66-5-61.

Runner-up was Rick Fallon with scores of 73-6-67 and 70-6-64 for 131, the same total achieved by third-placed Norman Radcliffe jnr with 68-3-65 and 69-3-66.

The second-round winner was Steve Rae (73-14-59) from Paul Butler (66-5-61) and Bernard Wolfenden (78-15-63).

Winners of a four-ball betterball Stableford were Alan Rotchell and Dave Finn (45pts), on the card from Lee Newsome and Gordon Howarth, Norman Radcliffe jnr and Ben Kirkham.

The Cyril Taylor Trophy at SADDLEWORTH, a greensome medal, went to Dean Jagger and Mark Orme with a score of 68-6-62.

Runners-up were Nigel Cooper and John Fancy (70-7.6-62.4) while third place went to Martin Orme and Nick Kerin (71-8-63).

First place in an open am-am went to Mark Woodhead and Nigel Broomhead who scored 50 points in the Stableford.

Runners-up were Stamford’s Mick Thompson and Gary Ormerod (47pts) while third place went to John Fancy and Ian Wood (46). Fourth were David Holme and Mick Heap (45), on the card from Bryn Lawton and Nick Sunderland.

The Seven Cup, a major at CROMPTON AND ROYTON, saw Rob Hogarth emerge the victor with a return of 70-7-63.

He finished one stroke clear of Peter Wright (81-17-64) while third place went to Bradley Cannings (77-12-65).

Andy Allen, Mike P Whelan and Mike A Whelan were the victors in a three-man team Stableford, scoring 81 points. They finished four points clear of Chris Rabbich, Rob Calow and Dave Holme.

BROOKDALE’S Lady Captain’s Charity Day Pro-Am raised £600 for Christie Cancer. Winners were the home trio of Derek Miller, Ray Deacon and Gary Coop, together with Bromborough pro Geoff Berry, who scored a 10-under-par 126 to win on the card from a team representing High Legh.

The top professional was Reddish Vale’s Adam Stott who shot a one-under-par 67 in blustery conditions. He finished three shots clear of Ringway’s David Brunton.

The first qualifier for the Captain’s Prize saw Alan Comer (76-12-64) take top spot in the first division from Gary A Smith (71-6-65) who was second on the card from Keith Miller (77-12-65).

Heading division two was Anthony Pontefract (75-13-62) from Tom Barlow (84-21-63). Third was Gary Winston (83-19-64), on the card from P Walker (78-14-64).

Albert and Val Brogan had a medal score of 70.5 as they triumphed in the husband-and-wife competition. Runners-up were Geoff and Jean Clarke (71).

STAMFORD’S two-man aggregate Stableford saw Colin Kershaw and Dave Halliday emerge the victors with 81 points, one clear of Kennedy and John Jenkinson.

And top spot in a singles Stableford went to Glyn Andrews (42pts) from Darryl Sowerby.

n OLDHAM still have starting times available for their Charity Company Day on Friday, July 4.

The cost is £105 for a team of three and it includes a carvery meal. Entries to Joyce Beech (0161 620 6678).

n ENTRY to Saddleworth’s Stableford on Monday, May 26 is a bargain £20 for a team of four players. It is open to men and women (any combination) and bookings to the secretary on 0145787 3653.


     

BROOKDALE have moved within a point of top spot in the Oldham and District Golf League ‘A’ Division.

The Woodhouses club won the title for four straight years before giving up their crown last year but a 7-1 home win over Stamford serves notice of their intentions under new captain John Uren.

There were wins for Mark Riley and John Hughes, Pete Buckley and John High and Gary Lever and Mike Taylor with Garry Smith and Brad Keeling denied the whitewash when held to a half.

A last-green success for Paul Rowbotham and Duncan Hough improved Werneth’s margin of victory over Saddleworth to 6-2 and enabled them to just hold on to top spot.

Earlier James and Adie Buckley (4 and 3) and Les Dooley and David Whaley (4 and 3) had posted wins for the home side before Martin Orme and Andy Dunster (2 and 1) gave the visitors hope.

Oldham posted their first win of the season at the fourth attempt, a 5-3 home success over Denton with wins for Paul Rainford and Barry Lewis (6 and 5), Rick Sweet and Dave Finn (2 and 1), and a half for Phil Doherty and Steve Daubney.

In the ‘B’ Division basement battle, Werneth were pleased to draw 4-4 at Saddleworth with wins for Tony McNamara and Ken Baker and Ron Hallett and captain Ron Lewis.

Saddleworth’s points came through an emphatic 8 and 6 win for Denis Lamb and Steve Wild and a win for Sean Bradley and Nick Kerin.

Oldham went down 6-2 at Denton but captain Martin Lewis and Ian McGloughlin continued their productive start to the season with another emphatic 5 and 4 success.

Week 4 - A Division: Werneth 6, Saddleworth 2; Brookdale 7, Stamford 1;

Oldham 5, Denton 3; Ashton 4, Dukinfield 4.

B Division: Saddleworth 4, Werneth 4; Denton 6 Oldham 2; Dukinfield 7, Ashton 1; Stamford v Brookdale late.


     

Oldham march on

OLDHAM defeated Chapel-en-le-Frith 5–2 at home in the first round of the Bell Cup to earn a tie at Heaton Moor.

Jackie Lees (5 &4), Lynn Kershaw (3 &1), Sheila Antrobus (3 & 2), Sue Mangov-Jones (7 & 6) and Mary Buckley (5 & 3) were the winners.

And Oldham triumphed 6.5-0.5 at home to Brookdale in the Handicap Shield. The Oldham victors were Janet Kershaw (4 & 3), Karen Phanco (2up), Marjorie Bray (7 & 6), Ann Rotchell (6 & 5), Edythe Turner (6 & 5) and Lynn Cotton (4 & 2). Sheila Antrobus halved her match.

The Scott Trophy saw Linda Newman (98-30-68) triumph by a wide margin from Edythe Turner (94-21-73).

Linda Bailey (104-33-71) won the monthly medal, on the card from Jane Antrobus.

The qualifier for the Scott Leggatt Foursomes was won by Linda Hall and Mary Buckley (69.5) who go forward to the regional final along with runners-up Jane Antrobus and Bev Scholes (71).

The Spring Meeting saw Joyce Beech (86–18-68) claim the nett prize while the best-gross return was 79 from Bev Scholes.

Linda Hall (5 up) romped to victory in a par competition from Lyn Cotton (3 down).

Victory in a singles Stableford went to Sheila Antrobus (38pts) from Olga Bradbury (33).

And a second singles Stableford saw Joyce Beech top the field with 38 points from Mary Buckley (37).


     

CROMPTON AND ROYTON bowed out of the Bell Cup, beaten 4-3 at home by Peover as several matches went to sudden death.

The local winners were Zoe Styles (1up), Bernice Fitton (19th) and Pauline Givvons (4 and 2).

And there was no joy for the High Barn club in the Lancashire Shield as they lost 6–1 at Whitefield where Margaret Butterworth (6 and 5) was the only winner.

A team goulash was won by Shirley Brown, Val Hall and Rita Bradley with a score of 64 points, three clear of Karen Heywood, Amanda Delaney and Pauline Givvons.

Winner of a medal competition was Maureen Delaney (94-15-79). Runner-up was Shirley Brown (94-15-79), on the card from Audrey Whittaker (105-26-79).


     

WERNETH’S LGU medal, a charity competition for cancer research, was won by Jane Clark (86-14-72) who finished three shots clear of Jane Fletcher (80-5-75).

Barbara Hopkinson (88-19-69) triumphed in Mrs Clegg’s trophy at SADDLEWORTH by one shot from Kathy Scott (90-20-70).

RACHEL RETAINS CARR TROPHY

RACHEL CONNOR is back in action after pulling out of the Helen Holm Scottish Strokeplay Championship at Royal Troon.

The 17-year-old from Royton withdrew following the sudden death of Ennis Dougherty, wife of her coach Roger, at the age of 61.

Rachel’s father Brian said: “When Rachel is in Florida each winter she spends several months with Roger and Ennis. Rachel was very close to Ennis and her death has come as a great shock.”

Last week Rachel returned to competitive action in the Lancashire Championships at Worsley and was the leading qualifier in the strokeplay championship after rounds of 75 and 80 in difficult conditions. She retained the Carr Trophy for the best 18-hole score.

But with the English Amateur Championships taking place at Ganton this week, Rachel decided not to proceed to the matchplay knockout involving the top 16 players. She was the beaten finalist last year.

o BROOKDALE’S David Thwaites has qualified for the final of The Rock, the PGA North Region’s flagship tournament.

Thwaites, who is still attached to Brookdale despite pursuing a full time tournament career, shot a one-over-par 72 to finish sixth in the west qualifier at Grange Park, Merseyside.

The final takes place at Maften Hall, Northumberland, between August 25/27 with the event carrying of prize fund of £30,000.


     

HOME players Ken Jackson and Shirley Brown were the winners of the Charity Shield at Crompton and Royton.

They scored 38 points in the mixed greensome Stableford to finish one clear of Ian Ashworth and Angela Jones, from North Manchester. Third were Oldham’s Ray and Mary Buckley, who scored 36 points, in an event which raised over £500 for the British Heart Foundation.      

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