February 2008

Alliance at Leyland

THE Manchester Alliance Greensome Stableford at Leyland, sponsored by Jonathan Gallagher of Greg Norman once more enjoyed excellent weather and produced a close finish in both the pro am and am am sections.

Ashton-on-Mersey pro Kris Andrews, fresh from golf in the Algarve, found an excellent partner in Jim Cooper of Fairfield, his former club as they posted 39 points to win a cpo from the Davenport duo of Tony Stevens, also recently enjoying warm weather golf in Spain and Portugal, and his amateur partner Fraser McLachlan.

There was also a cpo for third place on 38 points with Danny Midgelow (Northenden) and Carl Kennedy (Shrigley Hall) easing out Ashton-under-Lyne’s James Rowland and Mike Scowcroft.

Kris Andrews Ian Fisher (Leyland Capt) Jim Cooper.

  

Recent am am winners Colin Owen (Birchwood) and Steve Rhodes (Shrigley Hall) led in the am am section with 38 points with Chris Harrison (Leyland) and Ian Meedes (Harwood) winning a cpo on 37 to snatch the runners-up spot from Fairfield regulars Bob Davenport and Steve Thomas.

The Alliance Annual Dinner at the Cresta Court on Friday March 7 has been cancelled due to lack of support from member clubs.

It is with regret that the Alliance committee announces this after it has been a feature of the season for the past 28 years.

 

 

Colin Owen with Ian Fisher

  
   

Alliance at Blackley Sponsored by Bob Bardsley of Footjoy

THE competitive nature of the Manchester Alliance winter competitions was shown for the fourth week in succession as yet another new pairing won the pro am section.

The competition was sponsored by Denton, Lancashire and England legend Bob Bardsley, who represents Footjoy.

The players had to cope with frozen greens but were very appreciative of the efforts put in by all the staff at Blackley to make this a day to remember both on and off the course.

Werneth professional James Matterson scored his first-ever Alliance victory as he partnered club colleague Paul McGee to a winning 35 points to lead in from Leyland’s Colin Burgess and John Allott 34 and James Hopley and Brian Sinclair (Hazel Grove) 33.

James Matterson, Bob Bardsley, Paul McGee

  

It was also tight in the am am section with the duo of Carl Kennedy (Shrigley Hall) and Colin Owen (Birchwood) easing to top spot with 36 points.

Carl who by his own admission never wins anything makes it two in a row in the February Alliance Competitions.

It needed a cpo on 35 points to see Dukinfield’s Peter Dransfield and David Cooper into the runners-up slot from the experienced duo of Ged Gaffey and Walter Greegory (Bolton Old Links).

 

 

Carl Kennedy, Leo Henegahn (Blackley President) Colin Owen

  

Alliance at High Legh Park - Sponsored By Paul Hindley Cresta Court Hotel

A GOOD field of players enjoyed some terrific conditions at High Legh Park, which were reflected by a string of good scores in the Greensome Stableford sponsored by Paul Hindley of the Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham.

With his senior pros Mike Hollingworth and Jimmy Lister in Portugal Denton’s young assistant James Tipper proved to be a superb deputy as he partnered another young star Jon Chaislty to a winning 44 points in the pro am section.

James said: "It was terrific to win my first major pro competition and Jon was a great partner.

 

Am-Am Carl Kennedy, Alliance Captain Ian ‘Sunny’ Brooks and Steve Rhodes

  

"He had won an Alliance event with Mike earlier in the year but it was great to get a bigger score than them and beat legends such as Alliance Life member Andrew Murray."

Andrew partnered Didsbury’s Paul Dalby to the runners-up berth with 43 points, one clear of Mark Smith (Stamford) and England u21 star Matthew Nixon from Ashton-under-Lyne who posted a great seven-under-gross score.

Shrigley Hall duo Steve Rhodes and Carl Kennedy were out on their own in the am-am section with a massive 47 points.

Next in on 42 were sponsor Paul Hindley and his amateur partner Tony Lynch of Altrincham with 42 points.

Jon Chaisty, Martin Hammond Captain High Legh Park and James Tipper

  
The prize-winners were completed by the young Warrington duo of Matt Fryer and Steve Kinder with 41 points.
 

Alliance At Astbury - Sponsored By Toft Construction

LOCAL knowledge paid big dividends as the Manchester Alliance played a Greensome Stableford at Astbury Golf Club.

Topping the am am section with a fine haul of 43 points were Astbury Captain Steve Whalley and his partner Martin Gill.

They led in by two points from sponsor Simon Harris (Toft Construction) a member of Mere Golf and Country Club and his partner Ken Newbiggin.

Completing the prize list were Didsbury Alliance debutant Jeff Brothwell, a professional classical musician, and Sam Curtis, the father of Northenden pro James Curtis with 40 point.

In the pro am section Bury assistant pro Sean Doherty partnered Phil McDonald to a winning 42 points.

 

 

James Hopley
 

David Green
Just a point off the pace were Dukinfield pro Dave Green and Alf Shillitoe (Brookdale) who won a cpo on 41 points from Hazel Grove duo James Hopley and Rick Guyeski.
 

Alliance at Wychwood Park

THERE was a full field of over 130 players as the Manchester Alliance resumed its winter season at the fine venue of Wychwood Park.

The event was sponsored by Alliance life member Andrew Murray of PA Associates and in the field were more legendary life members in Derrick Cooper and Denis Durnian.

But it was the young guns who took the honours in the pro am.

Warrington assistant pro Graham Cox showed the benefits of warm-weather competition in South Africa as he partnered club amateur Matt Fryer to an impressive winning 42 points.

Next in after winning a cpo on 39 were Chorlton assistant pro Matt Sellors, with his best-ever Alliance finish and Liam Harrison from Will Bell and Fraser McLoughlin of Davenport.

 

Mike Powell

  

Shrigley Hall again dominated the am am section with Paul Bishop and Mike Powell top of the tree with 40 as club colleagues Brian Hopkins and Graham Sutcliffe were two points off their hot pace with the experienced Fairfield duo of Bob Davenport and Steve Thomas completing the prize list with 36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Sellors

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