Hanson lifts trophy after fightback

STUART HANSON lifted the Fawcett Cup at OLDHAM after an epic match in the final of the 36-hole matchplay knockout.

Hanson only clinched victory at the last hole after fellow finalist Rick Fallon had made a stirring fightback.

At the half-way stage, Hanson had been four holes ahead only for Fallon to claw his way back into contention.

Mark Ruff and Dave Ganley were winners of a four-ball betterball turkey competition.

They scored 45 points, the same total as runners-up John Baines and John Bramall.

Third were Alan Squires and Sean Dixon (44pts) on the card from Alan Chadwick and Steve Smith.

The top three pairings all finished with 43 points in another four-ball betterball Stableford.

Winners were Colin Hare and Phil Dennis on the card from Lee Blainey and Graham Pendleton, Terry Kelly and Roger Stansfield.

WERNETH’S monthly medal saw John Stockley (74–11–63) claim the first-division prize on the card from Glenn Shaw (75-12-63).

It was far more clear cut in the second division where Les Jones (83-23-60) triumphed from second-placed John Martin (81-17-64).

SADDLEWORTH’S Village Shield was won by the team representing Dobcross and Diggle.

It comprised Alex Jeffery, Richard Eckersley, David Marshall and Cliff Bird and had a team Stableford score of 153 points.

The individual winner was Eddie Mills who amassed 42 points.

Only one point separated the top three places in an aggregate Stableford at STAMFORD.

Winners were Jack Fraser and Mike Dean (81 pts) on the card from Keith Hayes and Pete Smith. Third were Robin Furness and Chris Houfe (80).

CROMPTON AND ROYTON’S Texas scramble was won by Danny Heap, Keith Ward, Alex Givvons and Alan Shaw with a score of 56.7.

In second place with 57.1 were two father-and-son pairings Chris and Robert Calow, Ryan and Tim O’Leary. Third were Paul Harrison, Graham Harper, Chris Roberts and Mark Booth (57.2).

BLACKLEY have finished runners-up in the Lawrence Batley Seniors League for the second successive year to maintain their remarkable run of success.

In the three years since they first entered the league, they have never finished outside the top two and in their first year became the first club outside Yorkshire to be crowned champions.

The Christmas Fayre competition, a four-ball betterball Stableford, was won by Brian Johnson and Chris Thompson with 48 points.

Runners-up were Carl Murphy and Chris Bloomfield (46), on the card from Frank Tyrer and Dave Buckley.