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Smith glory

18/ 9/2008

SALFORD-BASED 13-handicapper Dave Smith is celebrating after winning the men’s singles section of the annual MENWN Golf Trophy.

He edged out Swinton Park two-handicapper Lee Parr via his superior back nine score to claim the top prize of a fantastic golf break for two in South West Ireland, which was presented by main sponsor Peter Walsh of Fairway Holidays, plus a fine trophy provided by Ryan PGT.

Smith looked down and out after claiming just 15 points on the opening nine holes.

But a 23-point back nine haul, which included three birdies, saw him come out on top in the finals day at Marple Golf Club on Sunday.

Parr also claimed a 38-point Stableford total, setting the benchmark for the day with a magnificent early level par 68.

His runners-up prize was a round of golf for four people at De Vere Mottram Hall. The runners-up of the ladies pairs section were Oldham’s Jane Antrobus and Bev Scholes, who won the same prize. They finished two points behind the victorious Myra Clark, who is Macclesfield Golf Club’s first ever lady president, and Catherine Atkin.

Clark and Atkin claimed 39 points to join Smith in winning a trip to South West Ireland.

The other prizes were Made2Measure vouchers and rounds for four at Marple, which were won by Stamford’s Roger Harrop (men’s singles) plus Oldham’s Sheila Antrobus and Lynn Kershaw (ladies pairs); a National County Card, which was won by Styal’s David Murray (men’s pairs); rounds for four at Styal, which was won by Brookdale’s Garry Smith (men’s singles) plus Bramall Parks’ Judy Read and Charlotte Lang (ladies pairs); a golf shirt, which was won by Marple’s Paul Greatbatch (men’s singles); trolley dolly bags, which were won by Oldham’s Mary Buckley and Edythe Turner (ladies pairs); and statuettes, which were won by Worsley’s Pauline Roper and Val Savage (ladies pairs).

Nearest the pin prizes were claimed by Didsbury’s Jef Brothwell, Reddish Vale’s Lee Bramhall, Buckley and Davyhulme Park’s Cheryl Gillings.

Four ‘twos’ were recorded by Harrop, Breightmet’s Paul Rayner, Marple’s Jeff Crowder and Murray, who each received six balls.

This year’s MENWN Golf Trophy competition attracted a record number of entries with players from more than 90 different clubs taking part.

The finals day on Sunday provided its usual tough challenge for those who had battled through the matchplay rounds with the course having recovered well from the recent horrendous weather.

MENWN weekly newspapers editor in chief Stuart Rigby was there to help present the prizes along with Marple’s president and lady captain plus Stockport Express sports editor Simon Smedley. They all expressed their delight at seeing such a splendid competition continue to go from strength to strength under the organisation of WGTB Golf.

Finals day scorecards. Men’s singles: 38 points, D Smith, L Parr; 36 points, R Harrop, D Murray; 35 points, G Smith, P Greatbatch, P Rayner; 33 points, D Briddon (Stamford); 32 points, S McGee (Ashton-under-Lyne), M Burgess (Denton), S Reyer (Tytherington), J Brothwell; 31 points, B Mannia (Styal), L Bramhall; 30 points, B Beswick (Disley), T Gills (Styal); 29 points, M Holt (Reddish Vale); 27 points, R Barraclough (Bramall Park), J Crowder. Ladies pairs: 39 points, M Clark and V C Atkin; 37 points, J Antrobus and B Scholes; 35 points, S Antrobus and L Kershaw; 33 points, J Read and C Lang; 32 points, M Buckley and E Turner, P Roper and V Savage; 30 points, C Gillings and E McKenna.