Potts pointing the way in cup

Golf

STUART POTTS heads the field at the halfway stage of the Committee Cup, SADDLEWORTH’S first major of the season.

In the opening round, Potts had a return of 76–9-67 to finish one shot clear of Billy Wright (86–18-68), who was second on the card from David Charnock (87-19-68).

Matt Woolley won a singles Stableford with 42 points. Second was captain Dave Pullen (41), on the card from Nigel Cooper.

STAMFORD are on the march after recording victories in both the Dunham Forest Trophy and Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes.

They whitewashed AVRO Golf Club 7-0 at home in the Dunham and edged a 4-3 victory at Dukinfield in the Archie Preston.

The win at Dukinfield was a dramatic affair as Chris and Joanne Akers, who were giving away six shots, triumphed at the first extra hole of the deciding match having been one hole down coming down the last.

The other Stamford winners were captain Ian Grimsditch and lady captain Mary Cowshill (3&2), Dave Batty and Chris Oag (2&1), Ian Trow and Janet Dean (3&2).

It was a straightforward affair in the Dunham with the wins achieved by Grimsditch (4&3), James Woodcock (3&2), professional Mark Smith (4&3), Andrew Bent (2&1), Mike Dooley (2&1), Batty (5&3) and Nigel Fish (19th hole).

Monthly medal:

Division 1: 1) John Coates (80-11-69), 2) Keith Coxon (78-8-70). Division 2: Mark Bridge (83-17-66), Harry Marshall (86-15-71). Division 3: Adam Harrison (83–20–63), Eric Rostron (90-20-70).

12-hole Stableford: 1) Daryl Sowerby (28pts), cpo Robin Furness.

ALAN Squires and Mark Statham claimed top spot in an open four-ball betterball Stableford at OLDHAM with 43 points. Runners-up were Graham Robinson and Roger Kenney (42pts), ahead of Lee Blainey and Graham Pendleton (41), Lee Melia and Frank Lawrence (40).

Mick Wallace landed the major Veteran’s Trophy at WERNETH with his 83-21-62 to finish a shot ahead of Alan Milligan (81-18-63).

A subsidiary medal was won by Gareth Hey (70-8-62) to beat Paul McKee (67-5-62) on a card play-off with Pete Hickey missing out altogether on the same score.

A fourball two-day Stableford was won by Pete Griffin and John Suttie (47pts) ahead of Bill Riley and Tony Roddy (46pts).

Four-ball betterball Stableford: 1) Graham Pendleton and Ian Wooliscroft (41), cpo from Mark Furnival and Mark Ruff. 3) Steve Rae and Andy Bradbury (40).

ALISTAIR Cameron, Jason Webster, Nigel Wylie and Mark Robinson posted a 13-under-par 127 as they triumphed in a team medal at CROMPTON AND ROYTON.

Second were Gary Melling, Andrew Simpson, Scott O’Leary and James Frizzell (128), on the card from Chris Rabbich, Andy Hirst, Paul King and Dave Osborne.

Medal: Division 1: 1) Andy Allen (69–4–65). 2) Chris Rabbich (66–0–66), 3) Andrew Bottomley (79–12-67). Division 2: 1) Dave Bacon (85-18-67) cpo Mark Roberts (85-18-67).

BROOKDALE’S Captain’s Qualifier No 4 saw Paul Taylor top the first division field with a score of 79-11-68 on the card from Mark Riley (70-2-68).

Third was Gary Lever (74–5-69) on countback from Paul Wood (76-7-69).

Lee Longdin headed division two from Iain Thomas (86-19-69, Michael Murray (85-6-69) and Simon Ellison (94-25-69).