Rachel in the money

RACHEL CONNOR — first pro earnings

GOLF: RACHEL CONNOR picked up her first pay check as a professional in the Future Stars Foundation Pro-Am.

The 19-year-old, from Royton, pocketed $350 after finishing in a tie for fourth place at Errol Estate Country Club, Orlando.

She was four shots off the winner, Sue Ginter, who fired a 67.

Connor’s team, which consisted of Donna Bonn, Steph Medaugh, who is a great supporter of women’s golf in America and Mystic Dunes pro Dave Clarke, were second on the day.

The former Our Lady’s pupil is based at the IMG Academy, Brandenton, Florida, where she is preparing for her first attempt at the Duramed Futures Tour.

It gets under way on March 22 with the inaugural $150,000 Mexico Classic at the El Tigre Golf and Country Club in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

And Connor will benefit from a new set of TaylorMade clubs, which were specially moulded for her requirements after a three-and-a-half hour visit to the company’s performance centre at the Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation, Greensborough, Georgia.


ALAN BURTON won the latest Blackley Golf Club winter league competition with 44 Stableford points.

Mark Gill (41) was second, while Steve Murray beat Vinny Doyle in a card play-off for third after both scored 40 points.

Andy Bardsley leads the overall standings with 53 points, followed by Gill (43) and Alex Hampson (42).


CROMPTON and Royton’s team Stableford was won by Andy Allen, Chris King, Steve Bower and Landy Wild with 80 points.

Runners-up, with 78 points, were Andy Williamson, Steve Horritt, Alan Pickles and Dave Ashcroft, while third - on the card- were Peter Bostock, Alan Barrott, Alex Hopkinson and Eric Mooney (74 points).


STAMFORD’S men played the Captain’s Farewell Stableford over 12 holes and the winner was Tony McCluskey with 31 points.
Second place, after a card play-off with three other players on 30 points, went to Mike Toms with Mike Bardsley in third.


WERNETH’S Captain’s Farewell, 12-hole par-three competition, saw section wins for Peter Davies, Mark Henshaw, Neil Pickering, Dee Whittingham and Harry Green.