Golf
CHESHIRE'S girl golfers turned out in force in a mid-season competition at Macclesfield Golf Club.
Local four-handicapper Natalie Lowe used her course knowledge to good effect with the best gross score of 72, which gave her a total of 39 Stableford points.
Next in on 38 was Hannah Davies, who maintained the fine form she showed at Helsby in the Cheshire Girls Championships where she was runner-up. The Bramhall golfer posted a gross 77, leaving her two points clear of Kellie Paxton of Wirral Ladies.
Didsbury's Jordan Whalley was also in the prizes with 35 points, while locked on 34 were Zoe Evans (Styal), Amy Rainford (Bramhall), and Didsbury junior captain Laura Thomas.
The 10-hole Stableford competition for the younger girls with no handicap saw Eloise Healey of Vicars Cross take top spot with 20 points - three clear of club colleague Poppy Findlay, with Natalie Davies of Mellor and Townscliffe in third place.
Davenport's men played for the Kennerley Salver and Darren Staff posted a fine 64 to lead in from Steve Johnson (66) and Dave Griffiths (67).
In the subsidiary competition Trevor Glover topped division one with 68 and Mike Upton was the leader in division two with 69.
Dynamic duo Jim Dunn and Andrew Bailey cruised to victory with 48 points in a BB Stableford competition to lift the Harry Boon Trophy. Second-placed Neil Lloyd and Andy Jacks won a card play-off on 45 points from Carl Roebuck and David Matkin.
Shrigley Hall's James Murphy represented Cheshire in their opening Northern Counties League match against Northumberland at Berwick.
Partnering Astbury's Andrew Hardie, he lost the foursomes 4/3, but he bounced back to win his singles 3/2. However, the Alliance captain's efforts were not enough to prevent a shock 10-8 defeat for Cheshire.
Local sides are gearing up for round one of the Manchester Alliance Williams BMW Junior Team Challenge knock-out. Shrigley Hall entertain Antrobus, Tytherington travel to Reddish Vale and Davenport visit Gatley.
In the Alliance Mixed Foursomes for the Archie Preston Trophy Davenport host Romiley, while Tytherington entertain Leigh.
Steve Foster, the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs secretary, has sent out warning letters to all of the 104 affiliated clubs after three people were arrested for forged Cheshire cards at Easton Golf Course.
