A new double act turned up trumps to win the qualifier at Hazel Grove in the MEN Media Golf Club Challenge.

Richard Bradshaw and Graeme Slater are both recent recruits at the Stockport-based club and did not even know they were partners until the day of the event.

"It was the first time we’d played together and when we turned up for the competition the pro put us out in the same team," commented Richard, a 12 handicapper.

It was obviously a shrewd move as they dovetailed nicely to finish with 40 points and secure a narrow victory in appalling conditions.

"We got absolutely drenched but we worked well together on the course. I only joined the club in February and Graeme, who plays off a handicap of 20, joined a couple of months before me," added Richard.

Not surprisingly the partnership is set to continue with an entry into the club’s pairs knockout. They will now go forward to join the other finalists in the MEN Media Golf Club Challenge.

There is a separate women’s event – also a betterball format – and Louise Hayden and Chris Jones were the Hazel Grove qualifiers with 41 points. They got the worst of the weather in the afternoon but managed to edge home by two points.

Men’s Results: Graeme Slater, Richard Bradshaw 40 pts; Andy Bennett, Ian Penny 39; Pat Connelly, Oliver Robinson 38;

Women’s results: Louise Hayden, Chris Jones 41 pts; Val Hall, Marylin Webley 39; Val Waters, Carole Starr 37.

Andy Stirling and Matt Withers survived a shaky finish to take first prize at Cheadle in the MEN Media Golf Club Challenge.

The pair feared their 42-point haul would not be good enough after scoring just a single point at the 17th and then not even getting on the scorecard at the last hole.

"We were somewhat surprised to find out we’d won," admitted Matt, a seven-handicapper. "We thought we’d blown our chance with that finish." In the end they had one point to spare over three other teams.

Matt and Andy, who plays off 14, now go forward to represent their club in the final of Greater Manchester’s newest golf tournament.

The format is betterball stableford and clubs across the region are staging men’s and women’s qualifiers at their home course.

Cheadle Results: Andy Stirling, Matt Withers 42 pts; David Conway, John Crowley 41; Martin Loynd, Gareth Lewis 41.

Over at Heaton Moor the men’s qualifiers were two single figure players. Mark Roberts (8) and Matt Phillips (5) took the honours with 41 points.

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