Great Golf From Top Juniors

Joanne Morley Junior Challenge

SOME of the region’s top juniors from the ages of nine to 16 enjoyed playing the tenth Joanne Morley Junior Challenge on a Sale course in excellent condition.

And a string of good scores reflected the quality of the field of 40 who brought great credit to themselves and their clubs with their faultless conduct and sporting spirit both on an off the course.

2009 Winner Will Hartley Receives The Trophy From Matt Nixon Sale Lady Captain Judith Stainstreet & Sale Captain Tony Ball

  
With Solheim Cup vice captain Joanne on duty in a special competition at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, young Lancashire and England star Matt Nixon of Ashton-under-Lyne, himself an outstanding junior at top level for several years where winning the British Boys championship was one of his many highlights, stepped into the breach to give an inspiring speech to the players and then award the prizes.

But Joanne will be playing a special challenge match against the top finishers later in the year

Top Boy Rob Potter with Matt Nixon

Top Girl Gemma Clews with Matt Nixon
Among the sponsors providing prizes were Joanne, Sport4Life, the Golf Foundation, Golftorium, De Vere Wychwood Park and Marriott Worsley Park.

In a tight finish Didsbury Golf Club’s young star 12 handicapper Will Hartley emerged as the overall winner and took the coveted trophy back to his home club for the first time with a top round of 38 points.

He also won rounds for four at De Vere Wychwood Park and Marriott Worsley Park.

Next in just a point off the pace was Disley’s Robert Potter with the four-handicapper carding a fine 37 points to win a golf stand bag donated by Sport4Life.

As the top boy next to the champion Robert will be invited to play with Will Hartley and the top girl with Joanne Morley.

Four boys were then locked on 36 points led by Mark Marshall (Sale) from Adrian Thorley (Upton by Chester), David Potter (Disley) and Sam Price (Sale).

The main prize list was completed by Matt Jones of Vicars Cross who won a cpo on 35 points.

Matt Taylor of Crewe won the nearest the pin for boys on the 17th and the special prize for the neatest boys card marked went to David Galletly of Upton by Chester.

Some of Cheshire’s top girls put up a great fight for the first place in the girls section but it was Ashton-on-Mersey’s five handicapper Gemma Clews who led in with 36 points.

She was followed by three players on 34 points with the 2008 top girl Poppy Finlay of Vicars Cross winning the cpo from Charlotte Leathem (Styal) and Abbie Cowlard (Reddish Vale).

The other prize winners were Sana Ahmed of Heaton Moor with 33 points and a terrific effort from ten-year-old Katie-Jane Stanley of Manchester, the 2008 Golf XFactor winner with 30 points.

The girls’ neatest card was marked by Abbie Cowlard of Reddish Vale and Poppy Finlay took the prize for nearest the pin on the long par three third hole.

The players were given a warm welcome by the Sale club led by their Captain Tony Ball and Lady Captain Judith Stanistreet who were delighted by the superb talent enjoying their fine facilities.

There was also a unique scenario for an Open Junior competition with triplets David (the 2007 champion), Michael and Katie Galletly all playing with Michael coming out on top in their own family battle.
Matt Nixon Presents The Trophy To 2009  
Winner Will Hartley From Didsbury  

Scores.

Boys: 38 W Hartley (Didsbury), 37 R Potter (Disley), 36 M Marshall (Sale), A Thorley (Upton), D Potter (Disley), 35 S Price (Sale), M Jones (Vicars Cross), J Barber (Didsbury), D Rakonakis (Sale), 33 M Robinson (Disley), H McCullen (Didsbury), 32 J Garnett (Didsbury),M Taylor (Crewe), 30 J Hall (Ashton-under-Lyne), 29 T Giblin (Sale), J Loughlin (Ashton-under-Lyne), 28 M Galletly (Upton), R Nevin (Sandiway), 27 J White (Upton), 26 R Saboonpaz (Vicars Cross), 24 A Rhodes (Disley), 23 D Galletly (Upton), 22 C Ferguson (Vicars Cross), M Hind (Disley), 18 K Metcalfe Ashton-under-Lyne),15 C Pugh (Cheadle), 14 L Yardley ((Cheadle), 10 N Evans (Ashton-on-Mersey), NR N Evans (A-o-M).

Girls: 36 G Clews (A-o-M), 34 P Finlay Vicars Cross), C Leathem (Styal), A Cowlard (Reddish Vale), 33 S Ahmed (Heaton Moor), 30 KJ Stanley (Manchester), 29 K Rawthore (Sale), 28 R Saboonpaz (Vicars Cross), 27 K Galletly (Upton), 21 C Hobson (A-u-L).
 

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