Manchester Alliance Matchplay Championship 2008

YOUNG guns in charge at Flixton

THE new wave of young stars in the Manchester and District Alliance made their presence felt in no uncertain terms in a great day of competition at the Match-play finals at the traditional venue of Flixton Golf Club.

Considering the recent atrocious weather the Flixton course was in great condition and enjoyed by all eight players in the main match-play competition and the Assistant’s Match-play.

The morning semi-finals produced two close contests in the main event with holder Richard Green (Bramhall) losing out on the last green to Warrington’s Graham Cox.

The second semi produced even more thrills as Ashton-on-Mersey pro Kris Andrews took on Bury teenage amateur Ciaran Doherty who had claimed some top scalps on his way to finals day.

Andrew Bridgewood With Trophy

Doherty kept up his good form in the final as he was always in control to win 2/1 to become only the third amateur to claim the title with Peter Barber in 1973 and James Murphy in 2004 being the previous players to hold this distinction.

In the Assistants competition Flixton assistant Andrew Bridgewood used local knowledge to good effect as he strolled to a 6/5 semi win over James Gardener of Didsbury to book his final slot.

The other tie was much closer before Gareth Jones of Sandiway secured a one-hole win over Paul Harrison of Mere.

It was nip and tuck all the way through 18 holes in the final and on the 18^th Gareth had a six-foot putt on the final hole to take the title but missed much to Bridgewood’s relief.

Then on the 19^th Jones put his shot into a ditch and despite a great recovery he had just too much to do to prevent the Flixton player taking the coveted trophy.

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