Denton dig deep at Dunham

The Dunham Forest Trophy is the top Inter Club match-play competition in a busy Alliance programme featuring the club professional and their six top amateurs in the teams of which there were nearly 100 in the original entry – the biggest of its kind in the country.

Dunham Forest Golf and Country Club host the finals day each year, which sees the last four teams play morning semi-finals with the winners progressing through to an afternoon final.

The competition was blessed with fantastic weather and the teams were also able to enjoy a fine and challenging course in excellent conditions.

The semi-finals saw Denton take on Bramall Park and Stand against Nelson.

Denton recovered well after losing the first game to Andrew Cartwright, with David Jones two up and Lancashire and England legend Bob Bardsley 4/3 giving them the lead.

Alan Boswell drew Park back level terms with a 21st-hole victory over Simon Currier, but wins for Matt Sayers 4/3 and Jack Suttie 3/2 booked their final slot with pro Jimmy Lister losing out to Craig Daggit in the final game.

The other semi-final saw Nelson go two down with 19th hole wins for Liam O’Donnell and Steve McGuinness. But Nelson came back well as Adrian Lingard 3/2, Craig Waddington 5/4 and Nick Uttley 3/1 put them ahead with pro Nialle Ormerod clinching victory with a 4/3 win over Mark Hancock with the other match conceded as a half.

The thrills continued in the final as Nelson took an early lead with a 3/1 win for Steve Duerden, which was soon cancelled with a 19th hole win for David Jones.

Then Nelson took control with wins from Adrian Lingard two up, Craig Waddington one up and Curtis Clarkin by 3/1 taking them to victory, with a consolation win for Denton pro Jimmy Lister by 4/3 and a half between Nick Uttley and Matt Sayers seeing Nelson win the coveted trophy for the first time in their long history.

The Alliance President Ian Brooks presented the trophy and the prizes to the two teams and thanked them for their great play and sportsmanship.

l Back at Denton, a Wednesday Stableford was won by A Morgan with 41 points, two more than Ian George and S Giblin.

A Denton Saturday Stableford saw division one taken by G Barber with 41 points closely followed by P Kassim1 and G Marsden, both 40.

In division two, Ian Moore led in with 38 from A Dugdale 37 and G Slater 36.

T Maggs was red hot in a Sunday Stableford posting a scorching 44 points to win from R Manion 42 and M Burgess 39.

It was close in the Men’s Open at Denton with N Brookes and D Travers winning a cpo on 44 points from M Shore and A Burton, two more than soccer legend Darren Beckford and Paul Griffin.

A ladies Stableford at Denton saw Linda Leung on top with 36 points, three more than Pat Southall.

The Goddard Cup for Denton ladies was won by Angela Ellam with 75 from Linda Leung 77.

l Saddleworth Golf Club were great hosts for a PGA members event with the winners being James Ward on -3 from Ryan O’Neill -1 and Ben Thompson level par.

Saddleworth ladies played over nine holes for the Lady Captain’s Prize and it was won with 18 points by Louise Hinchliffe, one more than Kath Oldham and Jenny Knight.

A pro’s Four Man team Stableford at Saddleworth was led in by the fab four of Lee Rowbotham, Mark Abbott, Charlie Nicholson and Andy Dunster with 99 points, two more than Nick Kerin, Alan Squires, Nick Marner and Jonny Fancy and Marcus Wray, Ben, Steve and Dave Pullen.

l Ashton’s men enjoyed an Exchange Day at Romiley with the BB Stableford being led in by P Bacon and S Heeley with 43 points, one more than P Radcliffe and S Baxendale and M Tobin and D McClusky.

Mike Cooke led in a Stableford at Ashton with 36 points from Chris McKown 35 and Beadley Allison 34.

Ashton ladies played a Three Lady Shaloug Team Stableford with the hot trio of K Watson, G Trewo and D Williams leading in with 57 points, one more than Sarah Pownell, Sue Barlow and Chris Bennett.

l Brookdale’s men played the latest Pro’s Stableford and Mark Smith won with 42 points from Dave Turner 40 and Graham Brown and Levin Gray, both 37.

l Crompton and Royton ladies played a Two Ball Texas Scramble and J Adams and D Chambers were first past the post with 65.4 from A Lowe and G Taylor 67.0 and A Fallows and E Owen67.6.

A midweek medal for C and R’s men had division one won by Paul Harrison after a cpo on 69 with James Allen and in division two Luke Eckersley was out on his own with a stunning 63, eight less than Robert Anderson.

l The final round of the Autumn Cup at Fairfield was won by Jason Ballinger after a cpo on 69 with Daniel Heathcote and Anthony Curran.

Fairfield ladies were in Stableford action with Sarah Pownell cruising home with 36 points from Jacqui Dawber 30.

l New Mills men played over two rounds for the Club Trophy and the early pace was set by David Swindells who won a cpo on 66 from Jack Marshall, two less than Keane Hyde and Steve Worrall.

In round two Jack Marshall led in with 66 from Keane Hyde 68 and Mark Brooks 69.

The consistent play from Jack Marshall saw him home with plenty to spare posting 132 to finish ahead of Keane Hyde 136 and David Swindells and Steve Worrall, both 140.

l Week 16 in the Summer Chase at Stamford Golf Club was won by Kimberley Mulvaney after a cpo on 44 points from Paul Traynor ahead of Stuart Mulvaney 38.

This was reflected in the number of great scores posted in all sections led by Phil Archer (Poulton Park) who is defending his Alliance Order of Merit title in great style in the early stages of the new Alliance season.

Phil was again the top individual professional posting 42 points to lead in from Jamie Howarth (Davenport) 40 and Scott Howarth (Davenport) and Mark Smith (Stamford) both 39.

Phil and his partner Jody Kerner (Leigh) had to be content with third spot in the pro am section with 45 points. This was overtaken by home pro Mark Smith and his Stamford partner Steve with 46 and 47 points from Alliance treasurer Vinny Doyle (Blackley) and his professional partner Tim Maxwell (Knutsford) with Vinny playing a big part in the victory.

In the am am section Steve Finan and Danny Fox were unstoppable with 46 points. They finished ahead of John Kilner and Tom Baker (Marriott Worsley Park) 44 and Paul Eddlestone and Neil Pragnall (Stamford) 43.

by Geoff Garnett