Golf: Webster takes top spot

CROMPTON and Royton’s Captain’s Prize saw seven-handicapper Jason Webster emerge the victor as he landed his first-ever major.

He had nett rounds of 67 and 70 for a two-round total of 137 and a two-stroke margin of victory over Norman Firth (71 and 68 for 139).

Losing out on the card for second spot was Rob Hogarth (64 and 75) though he landed the first-day prize with his 64. The second-day honours went to Tim O’Brien with 67.

The 18-hole play-off for the Zacharias Cup saw Jack Kenworthy (nett 73) defeat Glynn Naylor (77).

And in the play-off for the Veterans Trophy, also played over 18 holes, Norman Seabright overcame Jimmy Frizzell.

Rick Sweet took top spot in the first division of the midweek Stableford scoring 39 points, three clear of Glynn Naylor.

Bradley Cannings (42) won division two from Dave Brooks (38) while in division three the one-two went to Dave Lord (35) and Alan Pickles (34).

Marcus Wray was also a major winner at SADDLEWORTH after his victory in Captain’s Prize.

He had a two-round total of 145-8-137 which was one shot clear of second-placed Roy Dobson whose return was 156-18-138.

In third place with 169-30-139 was Jeff Platt.

The first-day prize was won by Martin Orme (70-2-68) while second-round honours went to John Walsh (85-16-69).

Runaway winner of a singles Stableford was Jack Shaw with a remarkable score of 48 points.

Runner up was Mick Harrington (40pts) while third place went to Simon Halliwell (38).

Left-hander John Armstrong claimed a major success at WERNETH in the James Waterhouse Memorial Trophy with a 75-13-62 return for a one-shot win over Gary Riley (89-26-63) who beat Mark Abbott’s impressive 66-3-63 on a card play-off.

There were similar scores in a midweek medal with Dave Nield’s 74-12-62 pipping Andy Hey (75-12-63), who took second on the card from Stefan Whaley (90-27-63).

Mark Liles lifted the Rawson Cup, a major at STAMFORD, after a medal round of 76-13-63.

He finished two shots clear of Alan Greaves (84-19-65) while third place went to Andrew Nolan (74-8-66).

Winners of the Open Am-Am, a four-man team event, were Stamford old boys Graham Hampson, Barry Sidebottom, Nigel Fish and Norman Birkett who scored 96 points.

BROOKDALE’S British Open saw Dave Salt (74-8-66) and Phil Mickelson (71) triumph with a score of 137.

Second spot went to Bert Needham (88-19-69) and Ernie Els (69) for 138, third were Gary Simmonett (83-16-67) and Graeme McDowell (72) for 139 and fourth was Tony Bergin (80-13-67) and Kevin Stadler (73) for 140.

OLDHAM held a similar hidden-partner competition which also featured a player from the Open field.

The winning trio were Jim Wilson, Dave Taylor and Ben Curtis with 133.

Second were Gary Lee, Dave Taylor and Thomas Sherreard (135) on the card from Mark Hayes, Stuart Hanson and Zach Johnson.

The leading betterball pairing was Lee Blainey and Graham Pendleton who shot nett 58.