Saddleworth dominate captains’ weekend

GOLF: 

SADDLEWORTH made it a hat trick of victories in the Oldham and District Past Captains weekend, held this year at Carden Park, Chester.

Captain Andy Dunster, Charlie Nicholson (vice-captain) Gary Simpson (past captain) and Allan Entwistle (president) made better-ball scores of 37, 42, 44 and 42 over the two days for an impressive 165 total - 14 shots clear of Crompton and Royton.

A second-day surge saw Saddleworth pull clear to lift the Oldham PVC Trophy, after Brookdale and Crompton and Royton had been tied for the lead on day one. Crompton and Royton pair Pete Meggison and Stuart Whittle took the first-day pairs prize with 44 points, ahead of Werneth’s James Buckley and late stand-in Mark Abbott (41). Second-day prizes saw a Saddleworth shut-out, with Dunster and Simpson (44 point) ahead of Nicholson and Entwistle (42).

A 28-strong charity cup, run alongside the main competition, saw teams captained by Werneth father and son Paul and Lee Rowbotham do battle Ryder-Cup style with Paul’s Team Gleneagles, edging it 16-12 over Lee’s Team Belfry.

Tony Doidge and Mike Cocker took the first-day prize with 40 points, ahead of Lee Rowbotham and John Barlow (39) while day-two honours went to Ian McGloughlin and Jim Garside (43 points) from Dave Banton and Ian Whittaker (39).

Paul Rowbotham, David Whaley and Dave Banton were double points winners for Team Gleneagles.

Team Belfry had held an 8-6 lead going into day two, but lost four and drew two of the seven games.

Saddleworth’s John Knight has been chosen to skipper Team Gleneagles next year at Belton Woods, Grantham (September 20-21), with Brookdale’s Lewis Marland leading Team Belfry. The other winner was Christie Oldham, with the players raising £160 for the charity.