Birdie bonanza inspires Sutcliffe

SILVERWARE SUCCESS . . . Jamie Heywood (left), Dave Pullen and Daniel Lyness with the Brierely Cup, John Knight, captain of Saddleworth Golf Cup, District Championship winner Kris Sutcliffe and runner-up Peter Buckley.

GOLF: A PAR three birdie blitz set Kris Sutcliffe on the road to success in the District Championship at Saddleworth.

The 39 year old registered five twos over the 36 holes to sweep aside his rivals by six shots.

And for good measure, Sutcliffe also fired eagles on the par-five 14th in each round.

It was the Crompton and Royton member’s second win in the coveted competition, after first picking up the prize in 2002.

Sutcliffe’s handicap is now down to one after he shot rounds of 73 (two-over-par) and 67 (four-under-par).

He said: “I made a poor start in the morning and was four-over-par going out, but I managed to pull it back.

“There were some tough pin positions, but the greens were good and the puts were going in.

“You could say I was in the groove.”

Sutcliffe has tried to qualify for the Open Championship on a couple of occasions, while he holds the

amateur course record at Crompton and Royton with a 63.

Victory at Saddleworth has set him up nicely for an important stage of the season

He added: “I feel in good shape, which bodes well with the Royton Sword and the Club Championship coming up.”