Smith set to step up tournament schedule

STAMFORD professional Mark Smith is to step up his competition schedule in 2009, saying success in a tournament in Florida has inspired him.

The 26-year-old finished the fourth leading paid man in the Northamptonshire PGA Overseas Pro-Am.

Smith scored 72, 73, 73 and 77 over four courses at Grand Cypress Resort, King and Bear, Slammer and Squire and Sawgrass TPC.

And Smith’s exploits helped his team representing Glossop Caravans finish fifth. It also comprised Ashton’s plus-three handicapper Matthew Nixon, Yorkshire scratch player Roger Roper and Stan Laing, from Glossop Caravans.

Smith said: “I have not played a lot of competitive golf since becoming professional at Stamford two years ago as I have been concentrating on activities at the club.

“Playing in this tournament and doing well has given me inspiration and I intend to compete a lot more next year.”


MARTYN Hamer has quickly erased the disappointment of failing to win his card to play on the European Tour.

The 23-year-old from Chadderton Fold finished fifth in the second of six fixtures in the Mansell Finishes Winter Pro-Am Series at West Lancs.

Only three of the 56-strong field broke par on the Blundellsands links course where Lee Shepherd (Willow Valley), Mark Pilling (Prestbury) and Mark Sheppard (Darland) each scored one-under-par 71.

Hamer, who is assistant professional at Ellesmere, shot a one-over-par 73.




RACHEL Connor’s excellent season has seen her finish runner-up in the English girls’ order of merit.

It has been another momentous season for the 18-year-old from Royton who represented the England senior women’s team for the first time.




CROMPTON AND ROYTON’S latest autumn/winter league fixture, a four- man team medal, saw only one shot separate the three leading teams.

The winners, with a score of 109, were Tim O’Brien, Steve Ashurst, Dave Parker and Ian Heggie, on the card from Kris Sutcliffe, Alistair Cameron, Jason Webster and Mark Robinson.

And in third place, with a score of 110, were Alan jnr, Alex and Colin Hopkinson and Jimmy O’Connor.




OLDHAM’S four-man team Stableford saw Mark Furnival, David Bailey, Mark Ruff and Brian Best emerge the victors with 104 points.

Second, with 102, were Ian Radcliffe, Mick Jones, Matt Radcliffe and Steve Rae while third, with 98, were Alan and Steve Squires, Cliff Butler and Tony Caveney.

Paul Pattinson and Mick Jones amassed 39 points to triumph in a four-ball betterball Stableford.

Runners-up were John Stringer and Alan Lees (37pts), on the card from Lee Blainey and Frank Lawrence.


SADDLEWORTH’S bottle competition, a four-ball betterball Stableford, produced a win for Don Hancock and Barry Lees (51pts), on the card from Roy Dobson and Mike Shore. Third were Sean Cooke and Nick Edwards with 50 points.


LOCAL golf clubs have one last chance to feature in a book being published next year to celebrate the centenary of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs.

Only 41 of the 142 clubs in Lancashire have answered an appeal for information, which has surprised author David Birtill.

He said: “I have written three letters to each club in the last couple of years and the response has been disappointing.

“Many clubs are struggling for members and it concerns me they are passing up the chance to appear in the book, which is a glorious opportunity to promote themselves at no cost.”

Clubs are asked to submit 150/200 words depicting their histories for the book which traces the history of the Lancashire Union of Golf Club which was founded at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, in 1910.

Details can be sent to golf@birtill.demon.co.uk and the author can also be contacted on 01254 831844.