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Bridges who broke into the senior team towards the end of the season won the Junior Strokeplay title earlier this season at Longley Park and also helped West End to the Junior League title and Junior Team Championship. He was also the lowest scorer in the Inter-District Junior Team Championship for the Halifax-Huddersfield side.
He amassed 36 points to pip Meltham's James Thompson by just two points.
Over the past couple of months Hanson has had pains in his back which forced him to withdraw from a recent EuroPro Tour event and miss his first cut on the tour.
With the EuroPro Tour Final approaching and also European Tour Qualifying just around the corner Hanson isn't taking any chances. The Crosland Heath professional said, "My back really hurt, then I went down to Wembley for the Challenge Cup, and the drive there and back did not help me at all. I had to pull out of the event in Ipswich and I was gutted! It was a bad time of the year to miss an event but I had to rest it as Tour School is coming up and so is the Tour Final for the EuroPro."
Hanson, who has recently moved house and not had internet connection to update his website is currently lying in 11th position in the order of merit where the top five spots gain a Challenge Tour card for next season. He added, "There are still a lot of good scores in me, and I really want that Challenge Tour card for next season!"
It proved to be an epic contest, which ended on the 38th hole at Meltham Golf Club, resulting in victory for the Fixby youngster. Broadley had previously won the title in 2004 where he defeated West End's Steve Martin by the margin of 4&2, Whitworth that day was a losing semi-finalist.
Broadley had overcome two tight matches the previous day beating James Murch from Dewsbury District by one hole after being two down late in the round and seemingly heading out of the vent then defeated host club member Toby Garrett on the 19th hole.
Whitworth had a slightly easier passage to the final with a 3&2 win over Halifax's Mark Birkett then a victory by 2&1 over fellow Bradley Hall member Andy Shaw.
Broadley, pictured below is seen receiving the winners shield from Union President Mr. Allan Woodhead.
Matthew followed in his father Michael's footsteps by landing the title after his dad had triumphed in 1979 and again in 1981. It is the first time that a father and son have won the trophy. Michael, an ex-member of Dewsbury District Golf Club, went on to win the senior event in 1989 and will be hoping his son can do the same. Matthew played some excellent golf on his way to a 4&2 victory in the 36 hole final.
Colcombe Junior had previously beaten Daniel Crisp from Huddersfield and Michael Lawrie from Crosland Heath to reach the final whilst Pullen played Charles Ryan-Hicks (Longley Park) and Sam Bridges from West End for his passage to the final.
Proud father and son, Michael and Matthew are pictured below.
Played at Meltham Golf Club on Saturday 15th of September the Halifax based side won by 2.5 to 1.5 points. In the four man team matchplay event all four matches were close encounters.
In the opening match West End youngster Ryan Greenwood beat Charles Ryan-Hicks by 2&1 which then after Sam Bridges had beaten Matthew Colcombe gave West End a 2-0 lead. However James Barrett lost to John Doherty to make the score 2-1 with the final match still out on the course. In that last game Lloyd Cramp was just able to hang on for a halved match against Adam Walker to give West End the victory.
Pictured below are the winning West End team from left; Lloyd Cramp, Ryan Greenwood, Sam Bridges and James Barrett along with Union President Mr. Allan Woodhead in the centre.
In the 36-hole, six-man team, all scores to count event the Halifax-Huddersfield side were always going to struggle to improve on their impressive third place finish last term. With Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield all fielding sides with a combined handicap that was 'plus' it was always going to be difficult for a side outside the top three to break through and dislodge the top guns and that is how it turned out with Bradford winning the title by 10 shots from Leeds with Sheffield a further seven strokes back in third.
In the end the HHDUGC finished in sixth position out of the eight competing teams ahead of Teesside and League Champions York.
Richard Broadley from Fixby led the line well with rounds of 73 and 70 for a 143 aggregate which gave the team hope of a high finish. He was backed up well by Hebden Bridges Iain Powell (73, 72=145) and Steve Martin from West End (75, 73=148). Had the remaining half of the team equaled those scores they may have just nicked second place, however, Edward Battye (78, 77=155), Ben Crowther (77, 79=156) and Andy Shaw (80, 77=157) all struggled with their form on a course with testing greens which meant that fourth place eluded them by 10 shots and fifth by just four.
Pictured below are three of the team. From Left; Iain Powell, Andy Shaw and Richard Broadley.
Team Totals:
Bradford = 861
Leeds = 871
Sheffield = 878
Harrogate = 894
East Riding = 900
Halifax-Huddersfield = 904
York = 906
Teesside = 924
The West End member and Union Junior Team selector shot rounds of 80 and 72 for a 152 total finishing six shots behind joint winners, Andy King (Garforth) and 60 year old John Grimbleby (Howley Hall).
Greaves had the consolation of collecting the lowest second round score as King who shot 76-70 was unable to collect more than one prize by Yorkshire Union rules.
Meltham's Graham McLean scored rounds of 77 and 76 to finish a stroke behind Greaves in a tie for 9th position. David Barnett from Lightcliffe scored 92-86 and finished well off the pace whilst Dewsbury's Roger Matthews No Returned. Chris Ingham (West End) and John Heyes (Huddersfield) both withdrew from the tournament.
Always struggling after an opening round of 72 on the par 69 layout Hanson made three birdies and just a solitary bogey in his second round but missed the cut by one shot.
The Fenay Bridge side edged a tense contest by the narrowest of margins, 5-3. The opening game was halved with the Fixby duo of Woodhead & Dyson winning the last hole with a par, nett birdie, to rescue the match and a point. When Eric Lord and his playing partner Hibbert crushed their opponents 5&3 in the second match the tie had very much swung in favour of the Fixby Hall club. However, the equilibrium was soon restored with Woodsome pairing Williams & Thompson winning their match by the same margin.
That meant that the title would be decided on the final match between Huddersfield's Ray Brooke & Derek Ashton and Woodsome pair Bateson & Hirst. Woodsome looked set for victory lying three up with just four holes to play but with Brooke making an excellent eagle three down the 15th it was game on again. However, halved holes on 16 and 17 gave Woodsome the vital two points required for victory.
Previously Woodsome had beaten Silkstone in the semi-finals at Hanging Heaton on a card play-off, whilst Huddersfield had seen off Hebden Bridge at West End.
D Lumb (Ryburn) beat M Holmes (West End) in the individual knockout final.
Despite only collecting two points in the final match of the season against Sheffield Union at Wath Golf Club it was good enough for the 2005 Individual matchplay champion as West End's Frank Greaves, the only player able to catch him, collected just one point.
Crowther, runner-up in the competition last year to Fixby's Richard Broadley, was unbeaten in his seven foursomes matches and only suffered singles defeats against York at West End and in the final match of the season at Wath.
Andrew Shaw from Bradley Hall finished in third place with Meltham's Graham McLean fourth. One point is awarded for an appearance, with three points for a foursomes victory and four points for a singles win. A half in foursomes is worth one point with two points on offer for a singles halved match.
The trio will all expect to post low scores in an attempt to claim the title won last year by Wheatley's Stephen Brennan over Doncaster Golf Club. Other golfers from the region who have also entered are John Heyes (Huddersfield), Roger Matthews (Dewsbury) and Lightcliffe's David Barnett.
McLean posted scores of 75 and 77 last year to finish 13th and will be hoping to break into the top 10 at least this year.
Once again leading after the morning foursomes (seven points to five) a mid order collapse in the singles left them facing a 20-14 deficit from what looked like a certain winning position.
Victories for Andy Shaw & Richard Broadley, Fraser Scholefield & Sam Bridges, Matthew Colcombe & Stephen Sweeney and with a halved game for Edward Battye & Ben Crowther it looked like a winning finish to the season, and fourth place in the league, looked on the cards.
However another failure to convert a foursomes lead with only a victory for Broadley and a halved match for Iain Powell out of the top nine matches meant the game was lost. Victories in the final three matches for Sweeney, Colcombe and Bridges, all by the margin of 1-hole, added respectability to the score line and meant the team finished the season in sixth position out of eight teams.
The 10 time winner of the event injured his shoulder at home in the garden uprooting a tree and may have to pull out of the event due to be played next Saturday at Meltham giving his opponent, Mark Birkett, a bye into the semi-final to face the winner of Andrew Shaw or Ryan Greenwood.
It would be a massive blow for Whitworth, the current Halifax Bradley Hall Club Captain, if he were forced to withdraw and will make a call nearer the time.
The team consisting of James Thompson, Sam Bridges, Daniel Crisp, Ryan Greenwood, Matthew Colcombe and Alex Battye improved significantly in the afternoon but never threatened winners Harrogate's total of 893, finishing 24 strokes behind on 917. Harrogate who had already won the IDU Junior league made it an impressive double and will be buoyed by the success of their junior team for the future.
Bridges was the star performer for the HHDUGC side with rounds of 76 and 72 for a 148 total, one better than Thompson who had scores of 75 and 74 (149). Crisp added rounds of 79 and 73 (152), Greenwood 80 and 74 (154), Battye 75 and 78 (153) with Colcombe posting an 86 and 75 (161). The lowest score of the day came from Low Laithes Richard Law with rounds of 72 and 70 (142) although Mitch Carter fired a 68 over his home course for the York Union in the morning but was only able to follow in up with a 75 in the afternoon.
The HHDUGC side actually finished next to last as they had a better second round total than East Riding which meant they finished in the same position as last year whilst Leeds were runners-up on 901. CSS was 71 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon.
Team Totals:
Harrogate = 893
Leeds = 901
Teesside = 908
York = 911
Bradford = 916
Sheffield = 916
Halifax-Huddersfield = 917
East Riding = 917
Whitworth cruised through his opening match against Chris Thewlis from Marsden Golf Club before overcoming Hebden Bridge's Iain Powell by a much closer margin, 2&1. The current Bradley Hall Club captain will now face a tough match against Mark Birkett from Halifax Golf Club who also moved through to the last eight with relative ease against Longley Park's Matthew Colcombe and then Paul Taylor from Bradley Hall.
However, there will be a number of golfers attempting to stop Whitworth adding to his ten titles. They include last years runner-up to Whitworth, Toby Garrett, from Meltham who will fancy his chances over his home course for the later stages of the event, he faces experienced campaigner Alan Dyson, a member at Crosland Heath, who is returning to the fray after a three year exclusion from Union events. The winner of that match will face the victor of the game between James Murch (Dewsbury) and Richard Broadley (Huddersfield).
The winner of the Whitworth-Birkett match will face either Andrew Shaw (Bradley Hall) or surprise package Ryan Greenwood (West End) who defeated his club colleague and Junior Strokeplay champion Sam Bridges and Andrew Appleyard (Bradley Hall).
On a difficult scoring day, where CSS rose to 74 in both rounds (reductions only in the morning), it was Moortown who claimed the title by six shots from favourites and defending champions Rotherham Golf Club.
Huddersfield finished in 11th place, good enough to retain their status for next year, by finishing in the top 12 of 18 teams. Richard Broadley struggled to rounds of 82 and 83 whilst Julian Ellison was also a little out of sorts with scores of 87 and 80. Charles Webb held the side together well with respectable rounds of 76 and 80.
Unfortunately for Halifax West End they finished 16th and must now face the prospect of starting 2008 in the second division and gaining promotion again like they did earlier this season if they are to compete at the highest level next term.
Partnering Oliver Young in the morning foursomes they secured a 3&2 victory at Scarcroft Golf Club. Then in the afternoon singles Thompson won his singles 1up to maintain his impressive form for his county.
With the title already decided, going to the Harrogate Union, a win would have secured runners-up place but the 26-10 reversal meant that East Riding jumped into the second place by winning 30-06 at home to Leeds whilst Sheffield hopped off bottom spot leaving Teesside with the proverbial wooden spoon.
Final Yorkshire IDU Junior League Table
A round of 72, one over par, left Hanson in a tie for 43rd and five shots behind leader Russell Claydon from Gog Magog Golf Club in Cambridgeshire.
The foursomes started in dank wet conditions with the ever-increasing threat of rain which did fortunately hold off for most of the day apart from a few isolated showers. The lead pairing of Iain Powell & Steve Martin got off to a flying start winning their first 3 holes to set up an unassailable lead which they held all the way round winning by the margin of 3&2. Andy Shaw & Graham McLean had a much closer encounter winning on the last by 1 hole. Ben Crowther & Edward Battye although down in their match early on, turned the deficit around to win by 2 & 1 and continue their very good record in foursomes matches. Frank Greaves & James Thompson completed the morning foursomes scoring for Halifax-Huddersfield winning 2 & 1. This left Halifax-Huddersfield with a healthy 8 – 4 lead after the foursomes matches.
Another slow start in the singles matches looked like proving costly for the HHDUGC with Powell suffering a barrage of birdies against him to lose 4 & 3 in the first match. Martin fought valiantly coming to the last all square, he hit his approach shot to 17 feet whilst his opponent hit his to 14 feet. Martin’s birdie attempt horseshoed 90 degrees around the hole staying out only for his opponent to hole his birdie attempt.
However things turned in favour of the away team when Shaw came to the last hole all square and hit his drive into the trees on the right, whilst his opponent was in the trees on the left, Shaw got his ball to the side of the green and got up and down to win the hole and the match by 1 hole. McLean stood on the 14th tee 1 down, but a birdie on 14 got him back to all square, he then also won both the remaining par three holes 15 and 17 to close out his match 2&1.
Battye was a little out of sorts losing 2 & 1 although Crowther turned in yet another great performance, taking control of his match early on to be four up after 11 holes, a late wobble let his opponent reduce the deficit to 2 holes and this remained the score as Crowther ran out the winner. Greaves battled as always to win his match by 2 & 1, keeping his hopes of winning the Order of Merit sponsored by Parnell Riley alive. Thompson went down to his heaviest defeat of the season losing 7 & 5.
This left the Halifax-Huddersfield team on 16 points, with four matches remaining out on the course, with one match all-square and the other three matches all down. The match of Mark Birkett then took a turn for the worse when he lost hole 15 to go one down, however his opponent then three-putted 16 to return to all square, two solid pars by Birkett enabled him to half the match and secure a very valuable point for Halifax-Huddersfield. Unfortunately Scholefield & Colcombe could not turn their matches around, which left Bridges out on the course two down with five to play and the overall match score at 17 – 17. A birdie on 14 courtesy of driving the par 4 green reduced the deficit to one, a three putt mistake by his opponent on 15 left the match all square, hole 16 was halved in par fours, then Bridges won the par three 17th hole with a birdie. By now all the players were congregated around the 18th green awaiting the outcome of the match. Both players hit good drives into the heart of the fairway, the home player hit his approach to 15 feet, an adrenaline charged Bridges wedge ran off the back of the green into the fringe leaving him 40 feet away from the hole, Bridges chipped to 3 feet while his opponent missed his birdie putt, Bridges holed to give Halifax-Huddersfield the match by the margin of 19 – 17.
Senior Team captain Chris Mear commented, "All in all it was a very satisfying win, with all the new faces acquitting themselves well, again a big thanks to our sponsors, Primetime – Clothing, Stromberg – Trousers, Danlett – Golf Balls, Brewfitt – Golf Balls, and Parnell Riley for the Order of Merit. We look forward to our last match of the season against the Sheffield Union at Wath-on-Dearne on Sunday September 2nd." .
For the 36 hole, all scores to count format, he has selected plus one handicappers Iain Powell and Andy Shaw from Hebden Bridge and Bradley Hall Golf Clubs respectively. He also also gone for scratch men Richard Broadley and Steve Martin from Fixby and West End with the team being completed with Dewsbury pairing of Edward Battye and Ben Crowther, both one handicap golfers.
Frank Greaves from West End is named as reserve.
They secured victory in the three man team event over their home course with three excellent rounds from Ryan Joyce, Shaun Harris and Darren Brown. Joyce fired a 51, Harris scored 52 and Brown worked his magic for a 54 to give the Rastrick based club a 157 winning total, victory by ten shots.
The tournament had been re-arranged from the 15th of July when heavy rain during play forced the abandonment. At the time Castlefields were leading from Elland and it was a repeat performance in the rescheduled event as Elland totaled 167 to finish as runners up. Their total was made up by James Lord (54), Peter Thompson (56) and David Thomas (57).
The best individual nett prize went to Aidan Ozanne, a member at Crow Nest Park for his round of 50 while Lord won the best gross with his 62 total.
At one point it looked as though the competition might have needed to be cancelled again after heavy overnight rain continued into the morning but the hard work from Greenkeeper Peter Thompson made the course playable and in excellent condition. However, the event was marred by the non-appearance of four teams which left Union officials and the host club very disappointed. The teams who failed to appear were Longley Park, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Marsden.
Pictured below from the left is Albert Guest (Past president HHDU) with Shaun Harris, Ryan Joyce, Richard Badrock (Captain of Castlefields GC) and Darren Brown.
Dyson, playing off a handicap of scratch scored two rounds of 69, for a two under par total, to claim victory by two shots from three players including Moortown's Plus 1 handicapper Nicholas McCarthy who fired a 72 in the morning backed up with a 68 in the afternoon to land runners-up spot virtue of a better second 18 holes.
Barry Downing from the Hallamshire Golf Club finished third with rounds of 71 and 69 whilst Meltham youngster James Thompson finished fourth with a two rounds of 70, also for a 140 total.
The low round of the day went to Rob Hillas from Northcliffe Golf Club after a first round 67 but he faded badly in the afternoon with a 75 to finish in 7th place. West End's Sam Bridges, a three handicapper, impressed with two rounds of 71 that earned him the best nett prize on a day when CSS was 71 in the morning and 69 in the afternoon.
Dyson, 34, from Wakefield is a regular member of the Woodsome Hall scratch team and whose 138 total always looked good enough to claim the title he won 12 months ago with two rounds of 70.
Leading Scores:
Chris Dyson (Woodsome Hall) 69, 69; 138
Nicholas McCarthy (Moortown) 72, 68; 140
Barry Downing (Hallamshire) 71, 69; 140
James Thompson (Meltham) 70, 70; 140
Mikhail Ishaq (Bondhay) 73, 69; 142
Pictured below is Chris Dyson (left) receiving the trophy from delighted Woodsome Hall Captain, Richard Williams.
Played over two days, in tough conditions, especially on the second day when a strong wind was present for much of the day a 36 hole total of 178 would have secured a passage to the last 64 of the event which then turns into a matchplay format. However Crowther missed out by eight shots with rounds of 82 and 84 whilst Battye carded scores of 79 and a No Return in his second round.
Impressive rounds, in difficult windy conditions, of 74 and 72 for a six over par total was good enough to see off a trio of fancied home club members by just a single shot.
17 years on from claiming the Individual Matchplay Championship England can now add another prestigious title to his name and will go into the matchplay stages looking to become the first golfer since Andrew Whitworth in 2002 to win both events in the same year.
At the halfway stage England trailed by four shots from host member David Whitaker who headed the field by a shot from his club team-mate Paul Taylor and by two from white-hot favourites Andy Shaw and Whitworth. At that stage Bradley Hall seemed destined to have a home club winner during what is their centenary year and whilst hosting the event for the first ever time. The greens at the Holywell Green club were the courses biggest defense as many golfers struggled to cope with the lightening pace and tricky hole locations. Scoring conditions were that tough CSS rose to 72 for the morning and 73 for the afternoon,
However, England had different plans and his second round 72 was the joint lowest score of the afternoon (along with Andrew Appleyard from Bradley Hall) where the wind picked up significantly. Taylor faded badly with an 86 however Whitworth and Shaw both posted rounds of 75 which ultimately proved to be one shot too many. That just left halfway leader Whitaker out on the course with a chance of beating England but a double bogey five on the final hole meant that he also had to settle for a share of second place on a 147 total.
Matthew Colcombe from Longley park Golf Club won the Jubilee Trophy for the lowest 36 hole total by a junior with rounds of 74 and 75 for a 149 total and a share of fifth position overall.
Leading Scores:
Mark England (Huddersfield) 74, 72; 146
Andrew Shaw (Bradley Hall) 72, 75; 147
Andrew Whitworth (Bradley Hall) 72, 75; 147
David Whitaker (Bradley Hall) 70, 77; 147
Richard Broadley (Huddersfield) 74, 75; 149
Matthew Colcombe (Longley Park) 74, 75; 149
Andrew Appleyard (Bradley Hall) 78, 72; 150
Charles Webb (Huddersfield) 78, 73; 151
Frank Greaves (West End) 76, 75; 151
Edward Battye (Dewsbury) 78, 74; 152
Ben Crowther (Dewsbury) 76. 76; 152
Pictured below is Mark England (centre) with his wife Sally (2nd right) along with Andrew Whitworth (left) and his wife Louise (2nd left) plus HHDUGC President Allan Woodhead (right).
Mear explained, "Following our recent loss at home to the York Union, we probably need to look at bringing the better junior players into the team, and hopefully help them to make the transition from Junior team to Senior team, following the example set by James Thompson."
From the team that played York Richard Broadley and Jim Fairhurst are both unavailable through family commitments, Stephen Sweeney is working, Dan Stocchero is on holiday and Andy Appleyard is said to be struggling with his form despite recently landing the Mexborough Trophy and a top ten finish in the PS Cockcroft Trophy where he won the best afternoon round.
Mear went on to say, "I welcome back Steve Martin who missed the York match because of holidays, also back is Fraser Scholefield who has been ill, added to the team is former Bradford Union team player Mark Birkett who was also assistant professional at Otley a few years ago. Also included for Sunday is newly crowned Jubilee Trophy winner Mathew Colcombe and Sam Bridges who is having a very good season having won the Junior Strokeplay Championship."
The full team is; Steve Martin, Frank Greaves, Sam Bridges (all Halifax West End), Graham McLean, James Thompson (both Meltham), Ben Crowther, Edward Battye (both Dewsbury District), Andy Shaw (Halifax Bradley Hall), Iain Powell (Hebden Bridge), Mark Birkett (Halifax), Fraser Scholefield (Lightcliffe), Mathew Colcombe (Longley Park).
It was an enthralling encounter, played in good spirits at Lightcliffe Golf Club, which was always in the balance and could have gone either way. Tony Morrision, a past winner of The Page Trophy and current Outlane team captain, got his side of to a great start winning his match against Stuart Earnshaw 2up in a match that only ever had one hole in it until the 16th hole.
However, Queensbury hit back in impressive style with Martin Jacks beating Andy MacLaughlin 7&5 due in large to a fantastic short game performance. Another close game saw Gary Shuttleworth edge out Queensbury captain David Whealin 2&1.
That meant it all hinged on the final match between Chris Barraclough (Queensbury) and Mick Oldroyd (Outlane). Playing the final hole Oldroyd was 1 down but needed a pitch and a putt from 60 yards to win the hole, halve his match and give Outlane the 5 points they required for promotion. He played a good chip onto the green but his putt shaved the hole and the evening's match was tied at 4-4. Still no separating the teams!
The result meant that a sudden-death play-off ensued with both captains having to chose three players to play-off down the par three first hole until a team had won two matches. In the fading light and with spectators lining the fairway Morrison and Earnshaw traded pars, therefore returning to the first tee. MacLaughlin then put Outlane in the driving seat when his solid par was good enough to see off Jacks who had beaten him in the main match. When Shuttleworth hit the green after Barraclough had found trouble down the left he had three putts for the match and the division four title which he used to give Outlane their second successive promotion.
Morrison was delighted with the result commenting, "Wining the Page Trophy two years ago I didn't believe I could top that achievement, but taking Outlane from the fifth to third Division in my first two years as Captain of the team is on a par.
Pictured below are the winning team. From left; Mick Oldroyd, Andy Maclaughlin, Gary Shuttleworth, Tony Morrison.
The home side were always on the back foot after losing the morning foursomes 9-3, where the only points on the board came virtue of a win by Dewsbury pairing Edward Battye & Ben Crowther and a halved match for Meltham's James Thompson partnering West End's Frank Greaves.
HHDUGC also lost the singles 11-13 ensuring a heavy 22-14 defeat. Winners in the afternoon singles were Greaves, Thompson, Andy Shaw (Bradley Hall) Graham McLean (Meltham) and Dan Stocchero (Huddersfield). Stephen Sweeney (Halifax) added a point with his halved match.
The defeat leaves Chris Mears team with little left to play for this season with the exception of making sure last place is avoided which should be done with a victory over Harrogate Union at Otley this coming Sunday.
Played at Kirby Moorside Golf Club Thompson won his morning foursomes 2&1 then comprehensively saw off his opponent 5&4 in the afternoon singles.
The match finished all square and Thompson is pictured below being congratulated by HHDUGC President Allan Woodhead on his selection for the county team prior to the Union game against York at West End Golf Club.
We featured the story a few months ago (read here from 31/05/07) and are delighted to report that the challenge was completed on Monday 2nd July.
53 year old Bell commented, "The day was superb. We took 14 hours and had a tremendous bonding session with the important result that we have raised over £2,000 for McMillan Cancer Trust!" He added, "That was despite getting drenched throughout round two as well!!!"
Hanson carded seven birdies and just one bogey on his way to a share of the lead with three other golfers.
The York union are currently placed third in the league on five points, just one point behind joint leaders Sheffield & Bradford. However, the HHDUGC team are buoyant after their win against the East Riding at Halifax, and senior team captain Chris Mear is relishing the prospect of advancing further up the Inter District league table by beating the in form side. "With the in form Sam Bridges Halifax West End on stand by should there be any late alterations to the team, I feel we are going into the match as best prepared as we can be with a good mix of experience and youth and I am looking forward to a satisfactory result come 6.30 ish on Sunday evening."
The full team is Richard Broadley, Danny Stocchero (both Huddersfield), Andy Shaw, Jim Fairhurst, Andy Appleyard (all Bradley Hall), Ben Crowther, Edward Battye (both Dewsbury District), Iain Powell (Hebden Bridge), Frank Greaves (Halifax West End), Graham McLean, James Thompson (both Meltham) and Stephen Sweeney (Halifax)
This month we have made it quite difficult so anybody who guesses correctly will have a good chance of winning a prize. See the photo here.
It was a sunny but blustery day bringing out some fine golf from those taking part. The format was a better ball stableford. Invitees were Past Presidents, HHDU past Champions, Cub Captains, Executive members, Union sponsors and special guests such as the Professional Golfers Association Captain Mr Parnell Reilly who is based at the Bradley Park Golf Club. The President of the Union Mr Allan Woodhead thanked the West End Golf Club for their hospitality, he also thanked the organising committee lead by Past President Mr Rodney Taylor for the excellent organisation. Mr Woodhead went onto say that it had been a wonderful day giving many a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones.
In particular Mr Woodhead thanked Huddersfield Audi, in particular John Steele, for their sponsorship of the event and the day. Huddersfield Audi are sponsors of a number of HHDU Championship events. Allan Woodhead thanked Mr Geoff Wood for his caricatures of the winners, incidentally these were produced in the time between the winners being known and the dinner!
The Captain of the West End Golf Club Mr Paul Hume said that he and all club members welcomed the event and felt privileged that it was held at his club. A reply on behalf of the guests was given by Mr Peter Cockcroft. Peter said that it was a wonderful occasion and he thanked all for the organisation.
The winners pictured below were Robert Kershaw (far left) a PGA Professional attached to Mirfield Driving Range and Keith Beaumont the Union Past President in 1983 (far right). They are pictured with Parnell Reilly Captain of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and Allan Woodhead, President of the Halifax Huddersfield & District Union of Golf Clubs.
Huddersfield-based Hanson, 21, has made the cut and finished in the top 55 in each of the Tour competitions he has played in this season. He is hoping to extend that run as he is among 168 players for the latest tournament, which will be held at the Maylands Golf and County Club near Romford, Essex.
Hanson, who came seventh in the 2006 Order of Merit, has enjoyed a fine 2007 campaign with top ten finishes at Wensum Valley, Roganstown, Cardrona and Bovey Castle.
With £10,000 going to the winner, competition will be fierce, especially as the top 50 in the order of merit list at the end of the season will qualify for the lucrative Tour Championships. Graeme Clark, the only man to win two 2007 events, is in the field, along with four other winners - Neil Walker, Matthew Woods (Donnington Grove), Michael McDermott (Stackstown) and Guy Woodman (Stoke Park).
There will be a large local interest as the field includes Ben Cain (Maylands Golf and Country Club), Steve Cipa and Marc Etherington (both Upminster), Lloyd Kennedy and Andrew Pestell (both Chelmsford) and Craig Housden (Channels). The tournament runs from Wednesday, August 1 to Friday, August 3 and Danny Nickless, operations manager of the PGA EuroPro Tour, is expecting an exciting few days.
David Law of Elland Golf Club won the Wednesday Society's Captain's Prize at Bradley Park. The 13 handicapper scored 38 stableford points to fend off 29 other entrants.
The HHDUGC Junior Team were beaten by the weather in their match against Leeds at Cookridge Hall in the Junior Inter District Union league. After losing the foursomes 8-4 worsening weather caused the abandonment of the afternoon singles matches which were all classed as halved matches therefore Leeds ran out 20-16 victors.
Ben Crowther, the former HHDUGC champion from Dewsbury shot rounds of 73 71 to finish joint fourth, five shots back from winner Mark Young (Longridge) in the Royton Sword, a Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit event. Marcus Armitage from Howley Hall but also a member at Fixby carded 71 76 for a share of seventh place. Armitage will also play in this weeks English Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges and Royal Cinque Ports in Kent.
Helen Searle will be hoping for a good performance in the English Girls Under 15 strokeplay championship at Brickendon Grange, Hertfordshire starting tomorrow. The Fixby and West End member playing off a four handicap will be among the lowest handicap players in the big field.
The Holywell Green club secured the title by earning a 4-4 draw away at six-hole golf club Castlefields which also condemned their opponents to the second division next year.
Going into the final round of matches Meltham were the only team with a possibility of toppling Bradley Hall but they were defeated at West End who secured the points they required to retain their top flight status virtue of a 5-3 victory.
Meanwhile Fixby will join the top division next season after they made it two promotions in two days by beating Dewsbury District 5-3 in a title decider on their home course. That followed their runners-up place and promotion to the top flight of the Yorkshire Team Championship the day before at Bradford Golf Club.
However, it was contrasting fortunes for Woodsome Hall as they totaled 622 finishing in 14th position and as a result were demoted to the 3rd Division for next season. Chris Dyson however produced one of the best individiual performances with scores of 69 and 71 for a personal total of 140.
Fixby finished on 585, just four points behind winners Saltburn, with West End ten shots further back on 595. Huddersfield owed much of their success to the two rounds from Richard Broadley who fired a 70 and a 71 for a 141 total where he just missed out on the best individual score by two shots. Neil Williams and Charles Webb also added fine rounds with identical scores of 73 and 72 each. Jared Ellison scored a pair of 77's.
Steve Martin was again the star man for West End as he matched Broadley's rounds with 71 and 70 whilst Chris Ingham (77, 80), Ryan Greenwood (76, 75) and Frank Greaves (73, 73) completed the successful line up.
In the scratch section Bradley Hall seem almost certain to add the first division title to the the team championship that they won at Willow Valley earlier in the year. They require only three points to be certain of the title and a defeat (away at struggling Castlefields) could still see them lift the shield if Meltham do not get full points in their away match at West End who themselves require four points to be sure of avoiding relegation.
Promotion to the first division is between Huddersfield and Dewsbury who face each other in a crunch match at Fixby where the home side require just three points to finish in top spot. At the other end of the table Crosland Heath travel to Saddleworth knowing that a half will keep them up at the expense of their opponents.
Halifax and Todmorden have already secured promotion from the third and fourth division respectively although relegation matters are still to be decided in both leagues with Willow Valley favourites to drop from the fourth whilst Lightcliffe and Bradley Park must play-off to decide their fates. Lightcliffe will not have pleasant memories as they were relegated last year via a play-off.
Remarkably all five teams could still win the first division in the handicap section although it is in the hands of Willow Valley who also have a game in hand while Halifax are favourites for the drop but anything could happen in a league where only eight points separate all five teams.
Woodsome Hall or Huddersfield will be going the other way with Woodsome slight favourites although they need to travel to Fixby in their final game. Dewsbury need to go to Meltham and win 8-0 to avoid relegation back to the third division.
At a wet Longley Park Golf Club Bridges, playing off a two handicap, carefully put together a round of 69 that was good enough to give him the prestigious title by two strokes from Crosland Heath's Michael Lawrie.
Home member Matthew Colcombe had set the pace with a 72 which was matched by Stephen Pullen of Saddleworth but was not good enough for the on fire Bridges (pictured below) who is having a great season after also claiming the leading individual score in the Junior Team Championship earlier in the season.
The Halifax Bradley Hall pairing, playing off handicaps of 12 and 6 respectively, scored a splendid ten under par 61 to see off their nearest competitors with relative ease on a day when scoring was not easy. Runners-up were local pairing Chris Wood and Richard Brown who fired a 65 round their home course.
Despite losing out to Steve Uzzell for the best individual prize Martin's rounds of 74 and 71 helped his club to a 615 total and the title by six shots from Cookridge Hall.
West End will now aim to get promoted to the top division when they play at Bradford Golf Club on Wednesday.
Struggling after an opening 74 yesterday the Crosland Heath professional fired four birdies on his way to a tie for 20th position although he still lies ten shots behind runaway leader Graeme Clark who added a flawless 65 to lead by five shots.
The Junior Open at the Mount Skip course was originally planned for the 22nd also but the rearrangement meant that there were a number of withdrawals due to the Union event which was supposed to have been played on the 1st July but was called off due to heavy rain.
The victory was extra special for Williams as he is currently serving as Club Captain at the Fenay Bridge club where the victory was received with much delight. Williams praised the course and organisation of the event commenting, "Whilst I am obviously extremely proud to have won such a prestigious event at my home course and during my year of office, I am equally proud that the H.H.D.U selected Woodsome Hall as the venue and delighted the course provided a fair but challenging test of golf. My thanks go to the H.H.D.U for their hard work and to our green-staff for the presentation of the course."
Williams is pictured below (left) receiving the Championship Shield from HHDUGC President Allan Woodhead.
The Horrocks-Taylor Jug for the lowest three scores from a golf club again went to Huddersfield with John Oxley, Dick Loddick and Graham Smith making up the winning team.
Chris Hanson (Crosland Heath) scored two rounds of 73 for a four over par total at Monifieth Golf Club, one of four venues staging the final qualifying rounds where just three golfers from each field of 96 go through. A score of seven under was required to progress to The Open proper there.
The Willow Valley pairing of Lee Shepherd and Darren Rands were both drawn to play at Montrose Golf Club where again a seven under par score was required to qualify. Shepherd fired an impressive 70 on the first day to be in with a shout but fell back with a 76 today. Rands faired slightly better shooting 75 and 69 for a two over par total.
The fixture had been rearranged hastily because of the heavy rain previous to the fixture and the fear that the scheduled venue at Bradley Hall would not take place. The HHDUGC executive acted quickly in rescheduling the match at Halifax Golf Club who pulled out all the stops in hosting the fixture. The hilly moor land course proved to be a crucial factor in the teams win, as the local players knowledge of the tricky course came to the forefront as the match progressed, ending up in a fascinating encounter that ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon singles matches.
What made the win more gratifying for Team Captain Chris Mear was the way in which the players he drafted in at a very late stage, performed so well and were a prominent factor in the teams victory. Mear commented, "With late withdrawals becoming more and more frequent the team captains job is becoming more and more difficult as the match approaches, I was in fact playing myself until we managed to contact the home clubs Stephen Sweeney on the morning of the match, who quickly stepped in and fortunately let me carry out my team captain duties." He went on to say, "The disappointing thing is that this tends to be happening more and more frequently, and it begs the question of the commitment of some of the senior players."
The foursomes started well, as in all the foursomes matches this year the team picked up points, wins for the pairings of Powell & Shaw, Crowther & Hartley (pictured below), Greaves & Thompson, Taylor & Appleyard, and Stocchero & Sweeney put the home side in a very strong position at the halfway stage leading the match by ten points to two points.
A slow start in the singles mainly due to the fact that the East Riding team put out all their heavy artillery at the front end of the order, got the away side back into the match although they ran out of steam towards the end where the HHDUGC team took advantage.
There was only one winner in the first four singles matches, with Graham McLean trouncing Alan Wright by 7&6 whilst Ben Crowther battled and holed an 18 foot putt on the 18th green to grab a halved match. The next winner was James Thompson who won by 1 hole, Paul Taylor finished his match off with a birdie to gain a creditable halved match, Andy Appleyard finished his match in style on the 17th hole with a 6 iron to 6 feet winning 3 & 1, an emphatic win by Danny Stocchero 4&3 secured the match, and a further win from Stephen Sweeney birdying the 17th hole to win by 2 holes ensured the overall result.
As predicted earlier in the week by our website Chris Hanson (Crosland Heath) progressed as the regions best placed qualifier. A round of 72 saw him through in the 10th qualifying spot at Pannal Golf Club.
Hanson will be joined at either Downfield, Monifieth, Montrose or Panmure Golf Clubs by Willow Valley pair Lee Shepherd and Darren Rands who both also progressed. Shepherd matched Hanson's round at Pannal and finished in 11th place whilst Rands fired a 73 at Trentham Golf Club to make it through to the final qualifying where only three places at each venue will make it to The Open proper.
Amongst those not to make it were Nathan Stead (Queensbury) who just missed out at Pannal scoring a 74, Richard Broadley (Huddersfield) who scored a 79, Darren Arber (West End) an 83 and Dave Delaney (Halifax) an 84 all at the same venue.
Crosland Heath's John Eyre missed out after an 81 at Notts Golf Club and Kris Bielechi's (Saddleworth) 79 was not good enough at Trentham. Pleasington Golf Club did not bring any joy for our locals either with David Astin (Hebden Bride), Robert Johnson (Saddleworth) and Andy Shaw (Halifax Bradley Hall) all missing out after shooting 75, 78 and 78 respectively.
Mear said, "The fixture is crucial and hopefully the Bradley Hall course can withstand all the rain over the past few days, and enable us to get back to winning ways. The current league standings show us next to bottom, but we are only 3 points behind Sheffield, Leeds, and Bradford who all have four points and are currently tied for second place." He added, "A win would certainly help us ascend the league table."
The full team is; Richard Broadley, Danny Stocchero (both Huddersfield), Iain Powell (Hebden Bridge), Frank Greaves (Halifax West End), Andy Shaw, Martin Cockroft (both Halifax Bradley Hall), Toby Garrett, Graham McLean, James Thompson (all Meltham), Ben Crowther, Adam Crum, Daniel Hartley (all Dewsbury District).
The Scratch and Handicap foursomes also fell victim to the weather yesterday as many courses in the area are still saturated after heavy rainfall over the past few weeks. The foursomes matches had already been rearranged from the 25th June after heavy downpours then and will now hopefully take place on the 9th July.
The Union Fourball competition will also take place on the 22nd July at Dewsbury District Golf Club after that had to be called off last week and The Seniors Championship also delayed due to the rain will now be played on the 11th July at Woodsome Hall.
Local qualifying commences on Wednesday at various different venues throughout the UK where both amateurs and professionals will aim to take one of the 12 qualifying spots at each of the 15 venues in a bid to play for The Claret Jug on 19-22 July.
Amongst those most likely to make the grade are Crosland Heath professional Chris Hanson who is currently plying his trade on the European Challenge and EuroPro tours. Hanson will tee off (10.12am) at Pannal Golf Club aiming to repeat his 2004 effort when he progressed to the final stages which take place on the 9th and 10th July at four venues close to the Carnoustie links. Hanson commented, "It's a great event even at stage one as everyone knows how special the Open
is and a few good rounds in qualifying and it could be a dream come true."
Lee Shepherd from Willow Valley will fancy his chances after showing some good form recently as will amateur Richard Broadley from Fixby who will look to put the disappointment of a first round exit in The Yorkshire Amateur behind him, both join Hanson at the North Yorkshire course.
Hanson's coach John Eyre will also attempt to qualify at Hollinwell Golf Club in Nottingham although that was his second choice venue after initially requesting Prestbury near Macclesfield. It is the first time in four years Eyre has entered the regionals but will be buoyed by an impressive 73 in a Pro-Am at Willow Valley last week.
Other golfers from the area who will tee it up this week are; David Delaney (Halifax), Nathan Stead (Queensbury), Darren Arber (West End), David Astin (Hebden Bridge), Robert Johnson (Saddleworth), Andy Shaw (Bradley Hall), Darren Rands (Willow Valley) and Kris Bieliski (Saddleworth).
