TYTHERINGTON Golf Club junior Matthew Gillibrand is looking forward to a par-fect 2005 after a glittering 12 months of success.

The 15-year-old year 11 student at Tytherington High School has reduced his handicap from 18-9 and in the process picked up a glittering array of club trophies.

Matthew started playing competitively in April 2003 but has been swinging a golf club since he was a toddler.

He has been always been a keen sportsman, encouraged by his dad Mike and grandparents Sam and Mabel. Besides golf, he has also played football, cricket and tennis for various clubs.

Until now, Matthew has had no formal coaching aside from a few handy hints from his dad, but recently he started a series of lessons with Granville Ogden at Playgolf, Trafford Park.

During the last season his victories included the 2003/04 Winter League Division Two, the Jubilee Plate - BB Stableford - with his dad, Mike the Men's Doubles Match play Championship - with Matthew Palmer - and the Men's Singles Matchplay Championship.

The Doubles and the Singles were both won the same weekend and it was the first time he had entered these competitions.

Out of the 21 match-play matches Matthew has played during 2004, he has only lost one - The Winter League KO Final.

He has also won several of Tytherington's weekend competitions and finished eighth out of a field of over 130 in this years Men's Club Championship.

He is also a member of Tytherington's junior team, which has had a very successful season - winning the Cheshire and Derbyshire League, and narrowly missing out to Ringway in the C & D League KO Final at Sale.

Like many other youngsters, Tiger Woods is probably the golfer he would most like to emulate as his ambition is to be a successful tour professional.

Next year he hopes to enter more Open competitions around the region and hopefully progress and further reduce his handicap.

  • To get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report the contact is Geoff Garnett tel/fax 0161 881 7550 or email ggggarnett@aol.com .