Big-hitting Lee eyes drive prize

AMERICAN DREAM . . . Lee Newsome is in the final of the UK Long Drive Series.

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GOLF: LEE Newsome is hunting down a prize of more than £250,000.

The 38-year-old, a member at Oldham Golf Club, has qualified for the final of the UK Long Drive Series event.

He hit a 360-yard effort to win the North-West qualifier, held at Golftorium in Manchester, to end up fourth in the overall countrywide standings.

The final takes place on Sunday, September 26, and Newsome will bid for a repeat show at the same Golftorium venue.

The top three UK drives gain spots for the World Long Drive finals in Mesquite, Nevada, which begin at the end of October. Newsome last reached the UK final five years ago but has since suffered from injuries which have stifled his progress.

Now fit, he believes he is well capable of winning an entry — entitling him to a shot at picking up the £290,000 top prize in America.

“There are players who are capable of hitting it an awful long way,” said Newsome. “but five out of their six drives may go out of bounds. I am confident I can do well.”



THERE was a photo finish in the President’s Prize competition at Saddleworth.

Doug Hill carded rounds of 63 and 70 for a 133 total and victory on card play-off from Roy Dobson (67-66=133), with Richard Cotton back in third (68-69=137).


LINDA Newman claimed top spot in the annual past captains’ competition, staged at Oldham.

The Saddleworth golfer returned 25 points, to finish clear of Oldham’s Mary Buckley (23pts).

Joint third on 20 points were Janet Kershaw and Jane Antrobus.

Meanwhile, there is one place available for the three-ball Joan Hirst charity team competition for the Meningitus Trust at Brookdale on September 24, the last event of the year.

Details from Sheila Daniels on 681 4349.