Golf

STYAL'S England Elite star David Horsey celebrated his first full England call-up with a thrilling win to reach the last eight of the Manchester Alliance matchplay championship.

The 21-year-old, who has a handicap of plus four, one of the lowest in the country, flew back from playing in South Africa to take on Shrigley Hall three-handicapper Steve Rhodes.

Horsey birdied the second extra hole to take the game and book a quarter-final tie against Ringway's experienced professional David Brunton.

For the Styal ace, who is already the Alliance stroke-play champion and Cheshire number one, to win this competition against the best professionals in the region would be another major feat for the impressive youngster.

And it capped an incredible week for Horsey, who was one of two new caps named in England's nine-strong side for the international with France at Golf du Medoc, near Bordeaux, on May 12-13.

After being beaten by James Heath in the final of the English Amateur at Hollinwell in 2004, Horsey has blossomed. He won the County Champions tournament at Woodhall Spa last September by seven strokes after a closing course record 64 over the Hotchkin course.

This year the Cheshire ace was a member of the victorious England squad in the Costa Ballena tournament in Spain, and finished tied third in the recent South African Stroke Play championship.

Joining Horsey in the quarter-finals of the Alliance competition was Mobberley's Jon Cheetham, who defeated Shrigley Hall pro Tony Stevens on the 19th hole.

Meanwhile, Styal seniors were in bogey mode and Cliff Harrison needed a card play-off to take top spot from Alan Hunt, with David Hollick and Rodney Laverty hot on their heels just one shot behind.

Styal ladies played a singles Stableford and June Davenport cruised to victory with 33 points from Susan Williams (30) and Enid Bloxham (29).

A Sunday Stableford at Styal saw Richard Aldred out on his own with 40 points from Martin Finegan (38) and Hugh Kirk (36).