Sheila follows captain’s orders

Sheila Waterhouse with the Chronicle Cup at Werneth Golf Club.

SHEILA WATERHOUSE revealed she was following captain’s orders by winning the ladies Chronicle Cup on her own course during the club’s centenary year.

“We all got a pep talk from Lady Captain Hilda Garner last week saying she was determined one of us would bring the cup to Werneth to crown the centenary — and I was amazed when it was me,” said Sheila after her 97-27-70 was enough for a two-shot victory.

Sheila, who lives close to the Werneth course on Garden Suburb and who is married to centenary chairman Bill, played in the worst of the morning rain but plugged away to record her very creditable level par total.

“I was leading when I went home in mid-afternoon but thought someone would beat the total. I was shocked when I got a phone call to say I had won it.”

Sheila’s delight was doubled when the club also won the Centenary Plate team prize for the best four scores along with Jane Fletcher, Brenda Martin and Pat Grant.

Jane also won the best gross prize with a 79 and Brenda and Pat carried forward their form by winning the afternoon greensome with a score of 67-17.9-49.1 ahead of Oldham Ladies Golf Association (OLGA) secretary Marjorie Bray and Oldham team-mate Joyce Beech (64-12.5-51.5).

Joyce had earlier finished runner-up to Sheila with a score of 90-18-72 in the main event while the divisional prizes were won by Val Hall (Crompton and Royton) 92-19-73 on a card play-off from Crompton and Royton lady captain Lynn Truelove (82-9-73) in the silver division and Angela Hunter (Brookdale) 101-27-74 from Brenda Martin (101-26-75) in the bronze.

The host club were praised for the condition of their course in testing weather conditions.

The prizes were presented by Harry Hirst, director of Hirst, Kidd and Rennie, publishers of the Oldham Chronicle, and his wife Joan, president of OLGA.

At the end of the event it was announced Joan had decided to stand down as president of OLGA nine years after the association was formed and after many more years organising the event. She was given a standing ovation by the packed audience.


JANE FLETCHER lifted the Marie Hufton Salver at WERNETH in dramatic style after an 18-hole play off in the major.

Jane and Brenda Martin each amassed 37 points in the singles Stableford to force a play off.

There was little to separate the pair in the decider with Jane edging home by one point after totalling 33.

Sheila Waterhouse (36pts) claimed the first division sweep from Pat Grant (33).

Tied for the second division sweep were Christine Moon and Sally Newton who each scored 33 points.

Glynis Jones scored 39 points to head the field in a two-ball Stableford.

Brenda Martin won the first division sweep with 36 points while the second division sweep went to Stephanie Banks (32pts) from Dee Whittingham (31).

SADDLEWORTH’S five-club competition was won by Jean Dervan (90-21-69) as she finished four shots clear of runner-up Ann Fitton (91-18-73).