Riley keeps terrific form in the family

Mark Riley shows off his silverware

Brookdale golfer Mark Riley lifted the Oldham and District Golf Championship for the fifth time – and with it set up thoughts of a family grand slam.

Mark’s six-shot win at Werneth completed a family double in the district events as his brother Andy claimed the Chronicle Cup at Saddleworth in June.

Now the four golfing brothers who all play at Brookdale are set to make a big bid to take next month’s Centenary Trophy which will be played at Oldham.

And they are then planning to team up in the District’s final event of the season, the Fourman Team Trophy, which will be played on home soil at Brookdale.

Mark’s impressive win saw him shoot rounds of 64 and 65 – his four-under par first round including an amazing burst of five birdies in a row from the fourth.

The highlight of his second round was hitting his tee shot to within six inches of the hole at the short 280-yard par-4 fourth for a tap-in eagle.

Mark, who turns 60 in September and currently plays off a handicap of three, first won the borough’s scratch competition in 1999, won it again in 2005 and then had back-to-back successes in 2009 and 2010.

He said: “I played really good golf all day and made very few mistakes and I am delighted to win this prestigious trophy again.”

Runner-up was home player Adam Rowbotham who was in contention at the halfway stage after a 65 that at one point looked like being even better when he reached six-under before he double bogeyed the par-3 16th.

However, he couldn’t find the birdies in round two and signed for a 70 and a 135 total.

That pipped clubmate Gareth Hey (68+68=136) to second, but the four-handicapper had the consolation of winning the best 36-hole nett prize with 128.

The gross round prizes went to Neil Trolan (Brookdale, 71) and holder Gary Melling (C&R, 67) after the field made a 7am start to complete their 36 holes before England kicked off.

Werneth won the Brierley Cup, presented to the club with the lowest  four-player total.

The team consisted of Adam Rowbotham, Gareth Hey, David Whaley and Terry Walsh.

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