Fit-again Crowther back with a bang

Chadderton golfer Ian Crowther won a team tournament representing England.

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CHADDERTON-based senior golf star Ian Crowther never imagined he would end 2016 with such success after a traumatic conclusion to 2015.

A member at both Manchester and Royal Lytham St Annes golf clubs, Crowther was forced to undergo major ankle surgery at Wrightington Hospital last November, and figured the best-case scenario would be a year out of action.

However, Crowther made a miraculous recovery and has capped a brilliant summer by being one of a six-man England seniors' team (over-55s) who have just been crowned Home International champions.

Crowther said: "I had to undergo a total ankle replacement, so I was anticipating a long lay-off. I thought I'd be unable to play golf for around a year.

"But by March or April I was up and about again and swinging a club.

"In the summer I heard I'd been called up by the England seniors' team for the European Championships in Slovenia, where we finished third, but last week in Wales we won the Home Internationals and that really was a dream come true for me.

"We had a wonderful three or four days down there and we all played well.

"This year has turned out fantastic in the end."

Crowther, who plays off plus one at Lytham, won a bronze medal in the European Senior Men's Team Championships in Slovenia.

His England team lost to Scotland in the semi-finals, but defeated Italy in the third/fourth place play-off to land a prestigious medal.

Last week at the picturesque Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club in Carmarthenshire, Crowther helped England to success after coasting to a 8.5-0.5 victory against the hosts in the final game.

The victorious England squad were Crowther, captain Roy Smethurst (Crewe), Stephen East (Moortown), Richard Latham (Woodhall Spa), Alan Mew (Stoneham), David Nelson (Northenden), David Niven (Newbury and Crookham) and Mark Stones (Boyce Hill).