Katie bids for European crown

FAILSWORTH’S Katie Jane Stanley will be one of over 400 players from 30 nations to tee off in the US Kids Golf European Championships in May.

The 10-year-old, who is a member at Brookdale and Manchester, will be playing in the event which has emerged as Europe’s premier junior tournament.

They will be battling for the chance to become US Kids Golf European Champion while the top finishers in each category will also compete in the Van Horn Cup, a Ryder Cup styled event in which the best European players take on the non-Europeans.

The top five players in each category will also land a coveted place in the US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina, in August.

Katie Jane, a pupil at St Mary’s Primary, Failsworth, is one of 14 young players from the Lancashire Golf Union selected to compete in the event on five of Scotland’s historic courses.

Katie Jane, who was joint winner of last year’s Talent Hunt Tiger competition at Playgolf, Manchester, has been playing golf since the age of five.

Chris Peirson captured the Stott Trophy at OLDHAM after a round of 95-22-73. Runner-up was Florence Jacks (106-31-75).

Peirson (95-22-73) won EWGA No 3, formerly named LGU, from Jackie Lees (86-10-76).

Jacks (106-31-75) took top spot in EWGA No 4 from Mary Buckley (91-14-77).

Julia Wild amassed 42 points to triumph in a singles Stableford from Liz Johnson (40) and Kay Broughton (36).

Oldham defeated Harwood 4-3 at home in the Bell Cup, the victories achieved by Bev Scholes (4 & 3), Sheila Antrobus (7 & 5), Mary Buckley (2 & 1) and Liz Johnson (8 & 6).

They also defeated Swindon 6-1 in their opening Lancashire Handicap Shield match but, sadly, bowed out of the Mail on Sunday team event losing 3-2 at Manor where the two victories were secured by Jane and Sheila Antrobus.

Winner of the Coronation Foursomes at BROOKDALE were Diane Williams and Angie Hunter (92-21-71) on the card from Kath Storey and Val Brogan (100-29-71).

The spring meeting at SADDLEWORTH produced a win for Ann Head who totally 44 points in the Stableford. Second was Pauline Richardson (40).

The runaway winner of the latest EWGA medal was Brenda Gates (94-33-61) from second-placed Kay Orme (72-5-67).

Brenda Martin headed the field in a two-ball Stableford at WERNETH with a score of 40 points.

Jane Fletcher (39pts) claimed the first division sweep from Fiona Dooley (37) while in the second division the one-two went to Judith Wilkinson (37) and Sheila Lees (35).

BLACKLEY’S Barbara Garner, Brenda Simpson and Pat Rabbett finished second in a 13-hole ‘Bunny Hop’ at Manchester Golf Club.