Saddleworth eyeing success in Alliance Inter Club competition

It’s getting down to the nitty gritty in the Manchester and District Golf Alliance’s Inter Club Knock Out competition - the biggest of its kind in the country.

It’s down to the last 32 in the top Dunham Forest Trophy competition, which features the club professional and their top six amateurs.

Trophy holders Clitheroe are still in the mix and our local clubs still featured are Saddleworth, led by professional Andrew Earlam, who pulled off a great win at mighty Manchester GC and now visit Ringway in the next round.

Andrew said: “The team led by Team Captain Dave Pullen knew we had a tough away fixture and certainly a daunting one...it did not phase our team as we managed a fantastic 2½ to 4 ½, with wins from Ben and Ste Pullen, Jonny Fancy and Mark Abbot and a half from myself.

”Saddleworth’s Mixed Archie Preston Trophy team also progressed into the next round with a win at Marriott Worsley and they will host Whitefield.

Andrew’s former boss Mark Smith, the professional at Stamford, also took his team into the next round where they host Tytherington.

Our other clubs still in the mix are Denton v Wilmslow, Ashton-under-Lyne v Hart Common, Sandiway v Brookdale.

Meanwhile, Oldham Gems played two competitions and the latest round for the Brian Radcliffe Trophy was won by Paul Rainford (18), one clear of Stuart Wagstaffe and Barry Cotton.

The Three man team winners were Stuart Wagstaffe, Trevor Cash and Kevin Haynes (43).

The Gems also played a BB Stableford for the Arthur Burgess Trophy and it was led in by Paul Street and Ian McKenzie (21), one more than Mike Smith and Ken Lunn, with Stuart Wagstaffe and Pat Greene winning a cpo 19 from Brian Best and Paul Rainford.

The ‘major’ Committee final at Saddleworth was played over 36 holes and a cpo on 138 was won by Dave Hewitt from Darren Bidwell, two ahead of Nigel Hughes.

The nett round winners were Phil Bennett and Tery Walsh, both 67.

The gross round winners were Ben Simpson (72) and Paul Rowbotham, 71.

There was some good scoring in the Pro’s Stableford at Saddleworth with Ian Cash winning a cpo on 40 from Mike Ralph to top division from Mike Ralph.

It was even hotter in division two with Jon Givvons leading with a scorching 44 from Nigel Broomhead 43 and Philip Kearney 40.

A Three Ball Reverse Waltz had Mark Chapman, Steve Appleby and Oliver Chapman dancing to 83, well clear of Barrie Lees, Kevin Rafferty and ‘Hissing’ Syd Barton 78 and Tony Isaacs, Lancashire legend Alan Squires and Nick Kerin 75.

A Ladies Goulash at Saddleworth was close with Dawn White, Kath Oldham and Pamela Richardson winning a cpo on 67 from Jane Wild, Sarah Mitchell and Anne Walsh, one more than Sue Booth, Louise Hinchliffe and E Waddington.

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