A short thunderstorm caused a slight delay to the Manchester Alliance’s meeting at Styal but it did not deter last season’s Alliance captain Brian Hopkins from Shrigley Hall from yet another victory.
Brian won the am-am section for the fourth consecutive week, each time with a different partner, a feat believed to set a new Alliance record.
Brian’s partner was fireman Darren Whittaker and they carded 42 points to extinguish the hopes of the other pairs to win a count-back from Alliance treasurer Vinny Doyle from Blackley and his Manchester partner Terry Watson.
Next in on 41 points were Bolton Old Links duo Eddie Jordan and John Butterworth.
With professional Order of Merit leader David Smith (Swinton Park) not playing, the competition gave his rivals a chance to reduce his huge lead and the four players locked on 37 points – Peter Barber (Didsbury), Graham Cox (Davenport), Anthony Millar (Cheadle) and Tim Maxwell (Knutsford) – all gained useful points.
Millar found an excellent partner in club colleague Don Milligan who helped him rack up 44 points to win the pro-am section.
Next in was Tim Maxwell and his Tytherington partner James Davison on 42 points with the prize list completed by Denton assistant pro Jamie Tipper and his club partner Dave Collinson with 41 points.
A star studded field included England star Matt Nixon, Ashton-under-Lyne, Fraser McLeod of Hazel Grove who is scheduled to play in the Daily Telegraph finals in Abu Dhabi next month and Challenge Tour pro Danny Wardrop (Didsbury).
Back at Shrigley Don Farquarson kept up his hot streak in the Thursday Stableford series, winning with 30 points, one clear of Peter Will with Mike Gates next in with 28.
Styal seniors played their AGM Stableford and Eddie Austin showed his class with a winning 39 points seeing him three clear of Alan Trinick and John Kemp.
Young three-handicapper Alistair Waddell was a clear winner of a Wednesday Stableford at Styal with his 37 points giving him plenty of daylight from Pete Flanagan.
The Autumn Cup at Macclesfield was won by Rob Clayton with 40 points from Alan McInnes (38).
Macc’s ladies played an EWGA medal and Brenda Smith was a clear winner on 70, four less than Doris Walker and Judy Mutter.
Davenport’s men played an American Greensome and surprise winners were Stuart Scott and Graham Lake with a massive 47 points.
Left trailing in their wake were Howard Kennerley and Peter Crosby who won a cpo on 44 points from Neil Healey and Paul Leach.
Davenport team star Sandra Turner led in Division One in a singles Stableford with 34 points from Muriel Shaw (31). Barbara Oliver topped Division Two with 36 points and leading in Division Three was Gillian Edge with 32.
Golfers looking for some top open competitions in the coming months can enter the popular Winter Open Series, the Champagne Christmas Challenges and an Open Turkey Trot at Mottram Hall.
Contact 01625 820064 to book or for more information.
Styal Golf Club also have a good range of winter offers for groups or societies and the contact is Glynn Traynor on 01625 530063 x214.
To get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report (please include first names of players) contact Geoff Garnett on 0161 881 7550 or email ggggarnett@aol.com
