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Sarah’s successful year

12/12/2007

SARAH Penney can justifiably lay claim to being Crompton and Royton’s lady golfer of the year after a terrific season which saw her handicap tumble from 16 to 12 as she picked up a host of top club prizes.

After a gap of over two years, she returned to golf in February this year – still in the junior ranks – but won the lady captain’s and captain’s prizes, the Marks Cup, the Winterbottom Cup and the Peggy Cheetham Trophy.

She also teamed up with Andy Frizzell to win the mixed knockout and president’s Salver events, while also finishing second in the Mr President’s prize.

Sarah is coached by Royton professional Scott Connor – the assistant professional at Manchester Golf Club – and her aim in 2008 is to get her handicap down to single figures, while continuing to play for the Bell Cup and Lancashire Shield teams.

She said: "It’s been a great year and one I will find hard to emulate in 2008 with so many trophies to defend but I will certainly be doing my best."

Crompton and Royton’s men were in Winter League action in a team medal.

Leading in with a 125 total were Eric Frier, Jack Newton, Keith Masters and Norman Firth, one shot clear of fast-finishing Ian Mann, Norman Seabright, Glyn Naylor and Peter Graham who won a cpo from Danny Heap, James Frizzell, Keith Ward and the classy Alex Givvons.

Crompton and Royton’s young star Chris Rabbich is their November Order of Merit winner.

Youngsters keen to start learning golf can do so at Saddleworth Golf Club after it received YMG Junior Golf Academy status.

The Mountain Ash club is one of around only 750 clubs nationwide to have the accreditation.

The Young Masters Golf scheme is the first educational syllabus designed to not only introduce boys and girls to the game of golf, but also help them develop the skills and knowledge of the game that will keep them interested and motivated long enough for the golf bug to bite.

There are five levels for children to work through, each comprising an eight-week course of one-hour lessons which puts as much emphasis on rules and etiquette as it does on actually playing the game.

The first cadets course starts in the New Year. Bookings can be made by contacting 01457 810412 or calling at the club on Ladcastle Road, Uppermill.

One of the country’s finest young amateur talents showed his ability as the Manchester Alliance played a greensome Stableford competition at Bury.

Ashton’s Matthew Nixon, the 2006 British Boys champion and England Boys regular, teamed up with Stamford professional Mark Smith to win the pro am section with 41 points.

That was the score by which Blackley’s Alan Lane and Julian Robinson won the am am section after a cpo with home pair T Whitehead and S Devalle.

Winter golf is now in full flow and will continue at all clubs until next March.

TO get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report, contact Geoff Garnett on 0161 881 7550 (tel/fax) or email ggggarnett@aol.com