Whirlwind double for star Stephen

Photo: PHOTO BY DARREN ROBINSON

Saddleworth golfer Stephen Pullen won two club championships (Club Championship and Captain's Prize) on consecutive days.

Golf:

TEENAGER Stephen Pullen added two more Saddleworth majors to his tally in the space of 24 hours.

The 18-year-old, from Lees, registered a quickfire double thanks to victories in the Club Championship and Captain’s Prize competitions.

And Stephen, who is studying hospitality management at Huddersfield University, risked being kicked out of his own home after winning Sunday’s event.

For the three-handicapper pipped his dad, David, to the Captain’s Prize on a card play-off.

“I’m just about talking to him again,” said David (43), tongue-in-cheek.

“I’ve never won the Captain’s Prize and to lose on a card play-off made it even more annoying.”

Stephen, a former junior captain, successfully defended the Club Championship title with a three-shot win over Marcus Wray and Mark Orme.

The final round of the Captain’s Prize was held over for a week because of bad weather, and Stephen came from four shots back to claim the coveted crown.

Stephen is following in a long line of successful golfers from the Pullen family.

David was captain at Saddleworth last year, while granddad Frank was a former president.

And Stephen’s great granddad, ex-rugby league referee Dickie Thomas, was greenkeeper at the Lancaster Road course.

David is no stranger to success, with victories in the Oldham and District Championship and Oldham Centenary Trophy.

He also partnered Stephen to win the doubles knock-out, one of a clutch of Saddleworth majors for the seven-handicapper.

Meanwhile, in the Archie Preston mixed knock-out, Saddleworth are through to the last eight after a 5-2 win over Brookdale.

Saddleworth results —

Captain’s Prize (medal)

1, Steve Pullen 134 (66 and 68); 2, Dave Pullen 134 (69 and 65); 3, Dave Fox 135 (62 and 73). First day prize: Ben Simpson (69-4-65); second day prize: Andy Long (75-6-69)

Club Championship (scratch)

1, Stephen Pullen 146 (73 and 73); 2, Marcus Wray 149 (75 and 74); 3, Mark Orme 149 (73 and 76).

Subsidiary medal

1, Alan Entwistle 70-6-64; 2, Danny Guerriero 79-11-68; 3, Neil Mooney 84-15-69.