THE draw for the first two rounds of the annual Manchester and District Alliance match-play knock out will see trophy holder Richard Green of Bramhall seeking to maintain his title.

He will open his defence with a first-round match against his usual Alliance amateur partner and club colleague Peter Myers.

But Green can expect fierce opposition in one of the biggest entries in recent years,  with many top local pros and leading amateurs in the field.

Among them will be the Didsbury duo of respected professional Peter Barber and his assistant Dave Mackinnon.

Peter has already won this title a record seven times and will be looking to extend this, as a bye from the preliminary round sees him with a first-round tie against young Brookdale assistant Scott Goodwin.

Dave Mackinnnon enjoyed playing in some top pro events in 2007 and is a previous winner of the Assistant’s match-play title. He has a preliminary round match against Bramhall amateur Joe Kirwan, with the winner going through to play the experienced Nick Ryan at Ringway.

Andrew Bridgewood of Flixton will be looking to make the final on his own course, but he has a tough job as he takes on Alliance Order of Merit winner Mike Hollingworth, the big-hitting Denton professional who won the match-play title in 2006.

Ashton-on-Mersey professional Kris Andrews is the other local star in the frame and he kicks off his challenge with a visit to Lymm to take on their professional Steve McCarthy.

Sale amateur Mo Rawthore has a good success record in Alliance competitions and he hosts Denton’s young assistant pro Jimmy Lister.

Preliminary round:

M Rawthore (Sale) v J Lister (Denton; D Midgelow (Northenden) v S Rhodes (Shrigley Hall); R Shiels (Mere) v CD Jones (Sandiway); N Solski (Davenport) v C Daggitt (Bramhall); J Tipper (Denton) v C Doherty (Bury); P Harrison (Mere) v S Forrest (Styal); D Mackinnon (Didsbury) v J Kirwan (Bramhall).

Round one: R Green (Bramhall) v P Myers (Bramhall); P Barber (Didsbury) v S Goodwin (Brookdale); M Rawthore or J Lister v A Sproston (High Legh Park); G Coope (Bury) v D Green (Dukinfield); D Midgelow or S Rhodes v A Millar (Cheadle); A Lane (Blackley) v T Cuppello (Brookdale); J Robinson (Blackley) v G Cox (Warrington); C Fawcett (Bramhall) v T Stevens (Davenport); T Maxwell (Knutsford) v R Shiels or CD Jones; M Smith (Stamford) v W Bell (Davenport); G Bradley (Bramhall) v N Solski or C Daggitt; D Valentine (Chorlton) v J Tipper or C Doherty; J Cheetham (Gatley) v P Harrison or S Forrest; N Ryan (Ringway) v D Mackinnon or J Kirwan; S McCarthy (Lymm) v K Andrews (Ashton-on-Mersey); M Hollingworth (Denton) v A Bridgewood (Flixton).

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 tel/fax 0161 881 7550 or email ggggarnett@aol.com.

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