Brookdale edge ahead in title race

AS the Oldham Golf League reached its halfway point, joint leaders in the ‘B’ division clashed.

And while Brookdale went two clear with a 5-3 win, Dukinfield will be pleased to have kept the deficit to a minimum with the reverse game coming up in the final week.

Point scorers for the Woodhouses outfit were Gary and Graham Whittaker (7&6), Barry Hayes and John Strachan (3&2) and a half for Keith Loftus and Paul Tunstall.

Stamford ‘B’ pipped Saddleworth ‘B’ 5-3 through wins from Tony McClusky and John Grainger (4&2), Chris Akers and Keith Walker (3&1), while Paul Whitehead and Terry Merson halved with Steve Gaynon and Duncan Midgeley. Saddleworth winners were team captain John Walsh and Dave Newman (2&1).

The Oldham and Werneth ‘B’ teams were both whitewashed at Denton and Ashton respectively.

None of the top three teams in the ‘A’ division could register a win.

Leaders Denton lost 5-3 at Oldham, where Lee Blainey and Dave Finn (3&2), Terry Kelly and Paul Carruthers (2&1) and Phil Docherty and Steve Daubney (half) secured points for the home side.

Stamford’s title hopes were hit when losing 6-2 at Saddleworth.

Only Keith Coxon and Guy Hall (2&1) scored for the visitors while the home side had wins from Martin Heap and Dean Jagger (3&2), John Lacey and Tad Knebel (2 holes) and Chris Lakner and Dave Chapman (1 hole).

And Dukinfield were held 4-4 by Brookdale for whom Peter Buckley and Gaz Smith and team captain John Uren and John Hughes notched successes.

Week seven results — ‘A’ division: Saddleworth 6, Stamford 2; Dukinfield 4, Brookdale 4; Oldham 5, Denton 3; Werneth v Ashton postponed.

‘B’ division: Stamford 5, Saddleworth 3; Brookdale 5, Dukinfield 3; Denton 8, Oldham 0; Ashton 8, Werneth 0.