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Conways keep their cool

READY FOR ACTION: Vice Captain Quentin Cartwright (left) and Captain Derek Ashford team up in the Werneth qualifier for the MEN Media Golf Club Challenge.

There was no-one more delighted to see veteran Derek Conway roll in a six-foot birdie putt at the last hole than his grandson Lee.

It gave the Conways victory in the Crompton and Royton qualifier for the MEN Media Golf Club Challenge and booked their place in the final.

"If he’d missed we would probably have lost on a card play-off so it was a vital putt," said nine-handicapper Lee.

Derek, aged 74, needed a driver and a seven wood into the wind at the 368-yard par four to set up the birdie chance.

It showed he could still turn on the magic even though his handicap has crept up about 10 shots to 13 with age. He is now retired from his job as a mechanical engineer and was a useful footballer as well as golfer in his prime.

"He did most of the damage on the day and we were worried we may have blown our chances after failing to score a point at the 15th," added 28-year-old Lee.

The Conways, who finished with 44 points, could be among the favourites for the MEN Media event which sees qualifiers from each club go forward to the final.

They have been among the prizes before at Crompton and Royton, a parkland course between Rochdale and Oldham with a reputation for a tough back nine.

Crompton and Royton results: Lee Conway, Derek Conway 44 pts; Keith Ward, Alex Givvons 43 (cpo); Dion Norbury, Danny Heap 43.

  • The winners at Werneth were Steve Britt and John Stockley with 43 points. They had a point to spare over John Suttie and Steve McNamara who beat Nick Stanley and Chris Stanley on a card play off. Fourth on 41 points were Brian McCabe and Andy Hey.
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