2021

Chris O’Connell takes the winners voucher after a remarkable campaign which saw him improve his handicap by EIGHT strokes to ultimately outlast the magnificent challenge of Johnny Boardman , whose efforts placed him in first position until that crucial penultimate round where O’Connell took control . Third-placed Andy Miehe had also conducted a fine series of scores and was just one point behind until O’Connell claimed the W .

Danny Miller posts a crucial score in the Seniors Trophy to extend his record-breaking total to 35 Board Competitions and snatch the RAFA trophy from the grasp of long-time leader Nathan Butterworth in second place with a late flourish from Keith Ralston giving him third position . .Alty stalwarts Dave Drury , Jason Denton and Andy Mills completed the top 6 after a long season

Glen Rothwell continued his iron grip on the prestigious Tommy Povey Trophy , emerging victorious for the 7th consecutive year , his 8th in 11 seasons to take his Board Competition total to 23 . Club Champion Danny Miller overcame Jason Denton on countback to take second place with Messrs David Royle , Ralston and. Utterworth completing the top 6 .

Andy Moss was ‘the boss’ as he and your scribe Paul Hackett sensationally snatch the Wilson trophies from evergreen pair Bernie Wood and Gordon Boardman with a sublime -11 back 9 , successfully clawing back a FIFTEEN shot deficit after the front 9 on a day where at least 9 pairs had or shared the lead with the improving Wetherills claiming a fine third place finish . An extraordinary tale that is a lesson to all of us that we should NEVER give up !

Jim Fallon has finally won his breakthrough first Board Comp on countback to beat a field of 52 golfers from serial contender Paul MacDonald with 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell delivering a stunning back 9 masterclass to romp up the leaderboard to finish third as again the course restricted the vast majority of us to above handicap scoring .

Chris O’Connell produces an absolutely stunning back 9 to come through the field and deny Brian Nicholls , who had similarly recovered from a poor start that ultimately cost him . Third-placed Alastair Cairns produces a solid but unspectacular round in 3rd place whilst dandy Committee member Andy Window was similarly effecient but rued poor starts to front and back 9, those quartet the only members to beat their handicap on a dry but cloudy day ideal for golf but the hardening fairways and greens allied with the varying bunkers giving the majority of us a troublesome day as the course again bossed the show …

Nathan Butterworth strolled to a truly magnificent 6th Board Competition victory , delivering a front 9 scoring masterclass and then showing course management composure to consolidate his position with a stunning net 66 to leave all challengers in his wake , not least 2001 Barlow victor Keith Walton senior who finished second on countback heading the sextet of Chris O’Connell, Bernie Wood,Nick Alderson,Ian Cheetham and Jason Denton , all of whom finished 5 strokes behind him , none of them getting close enough to properly contend after front 9 leader David Roy Terris (2018 Tommy Barlow winner) had fell away after a truly sensational start .

Former Club Champion Glen Rothwell produced a sensational flawless course record 5-birdie 66 ( net 62 ) to destroy the field with fellow ‘Hall of Famer’ Captain-elect Danny Miller holding off 2021 hotshot Andy Mills for second with Derek Salmon recovering from an opening 10 to take 4th place on a day where our Captain Stuart Mason and his team fed and watered us wonderfully with us responding to score well in the benign conditions .

Self-proclaimed Stableford specialist James Darmon superbly regains the Golden Jubilee Trophy he won in 2017 as he snatched victory on countback with a ‘Championship holes’ masterclass from double 2021 trophy winner Andy Mills whilst Andrew Wood and 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell bemoan sluggish starts in the minor placings with the course only yielding two members beating their handicaps despite the benign conditions .

Andrew Moss gains redemption for his unlucky countback defeat last year to produce a phenomenal display to ease to a 5 point victory over the excellent Philip Wright and claim his first individual Board Competition whilst wily veteran John Rossiter played top notch course management golf but can bemoan a poor finish in third with ‘t’Committee’ elite all finishing prominently .Mr Captain a very decent 4th , tournament host Bernie Wood a fine fifth with Dibble an encouraging 6th on a dry sunny day in stifling conditions which saw just 7 of the 53 competitors beat their handicap . Newcomer Cameron Arnold was Blobmeister 🦞(7) whilst defending champion Dave Drury was a decent 15th.

Royle brothers Neil (12th) and Des (6th) add to their haul of trophies with a commanding display today , easing to a 2-point victory over the evergreen combo of Bernie Wood and Gordon Boardman who again are dashed in their pursuit of a 2021 pairs title whilst the new combination of Alty stalwart Mark Snape and newboy Ben Haslam take third place on a cloudy but dry day on our beloved course . MORE TO FOLLOW …

Brian Southworth breaks clear from a 4-way tie after 17 holes to magnificently net birdie the final hole to snatch the Holiday Cup by a stroke from fellow multi-Board Competition winner Keith Ralston and recent Watson winner Jim Fallon in the inclement conditions today with several members bemoaning crucial lapses to halt their challenges on a day where the course bossed the field not least Greg Hall , who NR’d on the 7th. hole but whose scores on the other 17 meant that even with a 9 on 7 he would’ve won the trophy ! MORE TO FOLLOW …