MIKE Hollingworth beat the pain barrier to surge into a 116-point lead in his bid to retain the Manchester Golfer of the Year crown which he captured for a fourth time last season.

The Denton professional boosted his chances when he pulled off his second Alliance double on the trot at Haydock Park, but unlike the previous week at Vale Royal, he did not have to rely on medication to get round.

"I tore the bottom of my ribs playing in a Lancashire PGA pro-am in Portugal and I had to swing slow and easy rather than try to bash the ball which is something I always do," explained the big-hitter.

"I didn't need any pain killers this week although I didn't give all my shots the full treatment in case I injured myself again."

Hollingworth racked up 36 points to take the individual prize, four ahead of Warrington assistant Graham Cox - his nearest rival in the Order of Merit.

And he also picked up an extra bonus for topping the pro-am section with 41 points but with a different partner from the previous week in clubmate Johnny Chaisty.

There are eight ranking events left and if it goes to the wire Hollingworth will be odds on favourite to keep his title because the last fixture, President's Day, is at his home club.

But he added: "I want to get it over and done with by then."

Meanwhile, he's among 53 who have already entered the inaugural event on The Players' Tour, launched by Gatley professional Jon Cheetham, at West Lancs on March 27.

Royal Lytham's Paul Eales and David Smith, the reigning M.E.N. Open champion from Swinton Park, are also among those battling for honours.

But organisers are eager to increase the number of senior and amateur players.



ONLY three professionals out of a 56-strong field broke par in the fifth and final PGA North Region Mansell Finishes Winter Series at Hillside.

Knutsford pro Tim Maxwell, clinched the Order of Merit, picking up three strokes on the inward stretch in a two-under-par 70 matched by Vale of Llangollen assistant Lee Rooke.

Merit runner-up Simon Edwards, from Wrexham club Clays, was third with 71.