Golf: Wood earns major prize

David Thwaites: Hoping to secure a place in the Open.

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COLIN WOOD captured Vice-Captain’s Prize at SADDLEWORTH with a score of 152-12-140 for the 36-hole major.

He finished three shots clear of Keith Hayward (169-26-143) who edged out David Marshall (181-38-143) on the card for second spot.

The first-day prize was won by Mick Heap (79-13-66) and second-round honours went to Barry Lees (80-13-67).

Roger Shepley (87-22-65) triumphed in the monthly medal from Martin Orme (70-3-67) and Nigel Cooper (76-7-69).

The WERNETH Spoon, an aggregate Stableford, saw Brian Donnelly and John Stockley amass 80 points to claim top spot from runners-up Adrian Buckley and Tim Joyce (79).

The Tuesday medal saw Tony Roddy (70-9-61) emerge the victor from Paul Egan (68-5-63).

Jimmy Frizzell and Norman Seabright must play-off over 18 holes to determine the Veterans Trophy at CROMPTON AND ROYTON.

Frizzell had a round of 84-15-69 while Seabright’s return was 79-10-69. Third was Brian Stafford (83-13-70).

A subsidiary medal, for those under the age of 55 years, was won by Lee Conway (78-12-66) from Andy Allen (73-5-68).

Mark and Steven Barrett and Brent Cannings topped the field in a three-man team Stableford scoring 82 points, one clear of Dave Whitworth, Ian Smith and Ian Whittaker.

Winners of a two-man Texas scramble at OLDHAM were father and son Norman and Ian Radcliffe with a score of 57.75.

Runners-up were Sam Lunt and Mike Allen (59) while third place went to Paul Pattinson and John Baines (59.75).

Eric Charles took the first division honours in a Stableford scoring 40 points, Second was Peter Bromley (39pts) on the card from Norman Radcliffe.

Runaway victor in division two was Steve Smith (43) from Alan Chadwick (39) and Ben Kirkham (37).

STAMFORD’S open Am-Am was won by the team of A and P Gaffney, J Woodcock and S Fletcher who scored 85 points.

Guy Hall and Jon Strickland claimed top spot in a betterball Stableford on the card from Martin Dwyer and Paul Clarke after both pairs amassed 46 points.

Captain’s Qualifier No 2 at BROOKDALE saw Paul Wood (74-9-65) take top spot in division one on the card from Rob Ashelby (76-11-65) and Peter Lloyd (71-6-65).

Paul Needham (76-13-63) headed division two from Eric Power (81-17-74). Third was C P McCannon (80-15-65) on the card from Paul Fry (80-15-65).




DISTRICT LEAGUE

BROOKDALE are facing a real battle for the Oldham and District League ‘A’ division crown after being held 4-4 at home by nearest challengers Denton.

Denton, who knocked Brookdale out of the cup last week, knew they needed a top performance at the Woodhouses course and young captain Jonathan Chaisty certainly got it to leave his team seven points behind but, crucially, with a game in hand.

Pete Buckley’s 100 per cent record for the season went when he and Garry Smith went down 2 and 1 to visitors Keith Halliwell and Paul Nuttall.

And Mark Riley and John Hughes, the leading point scorers in the league this season, could only manage a half against Matt Sayers and Dave Collinson.

Jonathan Spicer and Mike Taylor (5 and 4) proved the only home winners as Richard Wood and Charlie Clough were held by Lee Merson and Phil Hudson to make it 4-4.

In the ‘B’ Division, Saddleworth finally discovered some form and beat Stamford 8-0 with wins for Paul Green and Graham Hobbs (5 and 4 ),

John Walsh and Dave Newman (4 and 3 ), Steve Baron and Sean Bradley (3 and 2 ) and Steve Wild and Jordan Taylor (2 and 1 ).

The other six matches, due to be played the following night, all fell victim to the Thursday downpour and will be replayed later in the season.




LOCALS BID FOR OPEN PLACES

LOCAL golfers were today teeing off their bid to win a place in the Open at Royal Birkdale in a fortnight’s time.

Ten players with local connections were taking part in the 16 regional qualifiers.

But the odds of landing a place in the Open field were slim with almost 2,000 golfers vying for 288 places in next week’s three final qualifiers.

And with only four places up for grabs at each of those three venues - Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and West Lancs - from an entry of 96 at each, the odds of making Royal Birkdale from the regional qualifiers are over 150-1.

That does not prevent the local contingent from dreaming of glory, none more so than Martyn Hamer who has twice made the final qualifier as he tries to emulate his father Steve who played in the Open as an amateur.

The 22-year-old Hamer, who is based at Chadderton Fold and who is assistant professional at Ellesmere, at the qualifier at Pannal, Yorkshire, along with former Oldham player Marcus Armitage and Ashton-under-Lyne amateur Matthew Nixon.

Former Oldham professional Mike Hollingworth, Pike Fold’s Grant Hamerton who has been attached to Brookdale, and Crompton and Royton’s Martin Beaty are in action at Pleasington.

Down in leafy Cheshire at Prestbury are Brookdale assistant professionals David Thwaites and Nick Deme, Oldham pro James Rowlands and Stamford paid man Mark Smith.

Deme, like Hamer, has twice previously reached the final qualifier while Thwaites, who remains attached to Brookdale despite going full time on the tour circuit this year, has enjoyed success in a number of PGA North Region events and is the in-form local player.




Werneth book last-16 place

WERNETH booked their place in the last 16 of the Dunham Forest Trophy with their third successive 4-3 win in the competition, this time at home to Bolton club Harwood.

And for the third time it came down to professional James Matterson to seal victory, on this occasion at the first extra hole after 17th and 18th hole clinchers in previous rounds.

He was made to work hard for the win after being pegged back from two up with two to play.

But a long-range two-putt in extra time proved enough as opposite number Colin Maloney three-putted from similar range.

Earlier Werneth’s points had come via James Buckley (2 & 1) with his third win in three matches, the dependable Les Dooley (2 & 1) and Lee Rowbotham (1 hole) playing in the tough low amateur slot in the absence of his unavailable father, Paul.

However, Brookdale could not make a hat-trick of local clubs in the last 16 by joining Werneth and Saddleworth, when they were beaten 4-3 at Astbury (Congleton).

Brookdale winners were Russell Woods, Charlie Clough and Jon Spicer, but they could have snatched victory as professional Tony Cuppello and Peter Buckley were both beaten at the last hole.

Brookdale had better fortune in the Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes defeating Shaw Hill 5.5-1.5.

The wins came from Gary Smith and Angela Sloan, Paul Cain and Margaret Coleman, Trevor Mayo and Angela Hunter, Brad Keeling and Vicky Akin, Keith Loftus and Barbara Olivier. Doug Unsworth and Diane Williams halved their match.

But Werneth bowed out of the Archie Preston after a 4.5- 2.5 defeat at High Legh Park.

The local sides wins came from Paul Rowbotham and Fiona Dooley (5 & 4) and Lee Rowbotham and Jane Clarke (4 & 3).

John Yemm and Sheila Waterhouse gained a fighting half after being three down with three to play. However, the match overall was already beyond them, with two of the defeats coming on the final green.

Oldham were beaten 4-3 at home by Darwen in the Manchester Alliance Super Lux Men’s Foursomes.

Their wins came from Paul Pattinson and Mark Ruff (2 & 1), Terry Kelly and Ian Radcliffe (2 & 1), Dave Price and Paul Rainford (4 & 2).




TWELVE teams from seven local secondary schools will take part in the Chronicle Schools Golf Challenge at Crompton and Royton on Friday.

First staged in in 2004 as part of the newspaper’s 150th birthday celebrations, it has now become firmly established on the local schools sports and golfing calendars.

Former winners have been Hulme, North Chadderton (both at Saddleworth) and Failsworth (at Oldham) with last year’s event washed out at Brookdale.






DISTRICT TITLE UP FOR GRABS

WERNETH one-handicapper Lee Rowbotham will be hoping to make home advantage count when the 36-hole District Championships take place at the Garden Suburb club on Saturday.

Rowbotham was only 18 when he won the event the last time it was played at Werneth, in 2003, and he went on to successfully defend the title at Oldham 12 months later.

Now he joins a crop of other top local players including Mark Riley (Brookdale) and Gary Melling (Crompton and Royton) in trying to claim a third district title — a feat only achieved by great amateurs of the past Harry Swailes, Les Lawton and Alan Squires.

Defending champion Mike Shaw (C&R) is also in the field as is 2006 winner Martin Orme (Saddleworth), who is in the first group of the day at 8am, while the only scratch player in the field is Chris Rabbich (C&R).




DRAW

8.00 & 12.15: R Wood (B) 6, T Garrett (O) 7, M Orme (S) 2.

8.09 & 12.24: S Daubney (O) 6, G Lever (B) 5, L Rowbotham (W) 1.

8.18 &12.33: M Riley (B) 2, A Roddy (W) 9, D Pullen (S) 5.

8.27 & 12.42: P Buckley (B) 1, A Palmer (W) 7, G Melling (C) 3.

8.36 & 12.51: J Buckley (W) 5, G A Smith (B) 5 P Rowbotham (W) 1.

8.45 & 13.00: S Thompson (C) 9, M Fogo (W) 6, M Taylor (B) 7.

8.54 & 13.09: S Boyle (B) 7, J Osbaldeston (C) 7, N Wareing (W) 5.

9.03 & 13.18: C Cordwell (W) 6, P Pattinson (O) 8, T Nanyn (C) 8.

9.12 & 13.27: M Akram (C) 11, M Farrimond (W) 5, P Docherty (O) 9.

9.21 & 13.36: S Rae (O) 9, M Shaw (C) 2, J WIlde (W) 5.

9.30 & 13.45: S Rattigan (W) 8, C Rabbich (C) 0, J Suttie (W) 5.

9.39 & 13.54: C Allen (C) 5, A J Rowbotham (W) 4, J C Keogh (C) 10.

9.48 & 14.03: S McNamara (W) 5, D Holme (C) 8, L Newson (O) 4.

9.57 & 14.12: E Mills (S) 5, G Dawson (W) 5, I Sutton (W) 11.



*Any first division players still wishing to play in the above event can ring Werneth Vice-Captain David Whaley on 077 646 38309.






Antrobus sisters in control

JANE Antrobus edged out sister Sheila for victory in Mr Captain’s Prize at OLDHAM.

It was Jane’s second triumph in the major - 19 years after her first.

Jane had a two-round total of 166-34-132 to pip Sheila, winner of the competition in 1974 and 79, whose return was 160-29-133.

The sweeps went to Mary Buckley and Joyce Beech who both had 135.

The first-day prize was won by Liz Johnson (79-15-64) while second-round honours went to Sue Radcliffe (94-34-60).

Oldham won through to the last 16 of the Bell Cup after defeating Leyland 7-0 at home through Sheila Antrobus (3 & 2), Buckley (4 & 3), Sue Mangov-Jones (2 & 1), Beech (7 & 6), Lynn Kershaw (7 & 6), Jane Antrobus (7 & 6) and Beverley Scholes (2 up).

Oldham have been drawn at home to Shaw Hill, European Tour player Nick Dougherty’s home club, in the next round.

But there was no joy for Oldham in the silver division of the Lancashire Handicap Shield, Marjorie Bray (2 & 1) being the lone winner in a 6-1 loss at Bolton Lostock

Brenda Hatherill had a four-shot margin of victory in SADDLEWORTH’S LGU medal which was also the Frances Smith Qualifier.

Her round of 98-29-69 was well clear of Jean Dervan whose return was 94-21-73.

Saddleworth recorded a double against Oldham in the Lancashire Handicap Shield, winning 5-0 at home and 4-1 away.

Hazel Rogerson, Brenda Taylor, Barbara Shuttleworth, Rhoda Potts and Hatherill all triumphed at home while the away victories were recorded by Jane Wild, Julie Ward, Potts and Hatherill.

WERNETH’s Mrs Bottoms Cup, an LGU medal, was won by Fiona Dooley with a score of 71-6-65.

The first division sweep went to Jane Clark (81-14-67) from Joan Swindells (92-21-71).

Gail Rowbotham (106-36-70) claimed the second division sweep from Sally Newton (116-34-82).

CROMPTON AND ROYTON remain unbeaten in the Lancashire Handicap Shield following an emphatic 7-0 home victory against Heysham.

Pauline Givvons (7 & 6), Bernice Fitton (7 & 5), Lynn Truelove (6 & 5), Sarah Penney (6 & 5) and Zoe Styles (2 up) made it six wins and one half from seven matches played.