FLIXTON Golf Club’s young star Marc McLelland has made rapid progress at the game he took up five years ago.

McLelland [pictured] began his golf, aged 13 at the Flixton-based William Wroe course, and joined Flixton Golf Club a year later with his first handicap of 13.

At the age of 15 he was junior Captain at William Wroe and his handicap dropped to five. A year later McLelland was made junior Captain at Flixton, twice helping his side to win the Junior Team Knock Out in the Manchester Junior League.

McLelland moved into senior golf at the age of 18 and won the Flixton club championship in 2007 with a handicap of three and also won the Balfour Cup best gross prize at Withington.

McLelland has won two majors at the club including the Marsden Trophy, shooting six under par for two rounds, and the club championship.

He has also broken the Flixton course record, reducing it to 65 in a round containing six birdies and an eagle and, despite a double bogey seven on the 18th hole, still posted a five-under-par return.

McLelland is now looking to play for Lancashire and is spreading his playing into Northern Order of Merit events, and at West Lancs he finished fourth out of 90.

McLelland is taking a year out from his education to see how far he can progress and is looking to reach a handicap of +2 or +3 by the end of the season.

Paul Knighting won the Captain’s Prize at Flixton, posting a fine 66 to win from Jimmy Callaghan, Mark Evans and Steve Bullock. Evans had the best gross of 69.

Flixton junior Matthew Bent progressed to the semi-finals of the Manchester Junior League Knock Out from a field of 50 juniors from 10 clubs.

Flixton are staging a Team of Four am-am on September 19. Any local teams wishing to take part can contact Andy on 0161 746 7160 for details.

Sale’s men played for the Senior Vets and Subsidiary competition. P Coakley was top senior vet with 64, from Charlie Howie (67).

The Vets prize was taken by PR Rowles with 60 from SR Berg (65), and in the subsidiary competition D Nelson was top with 65 from T Crewe (66). Steve Price had the best gross of 67.

Sale ladies’ great run in the national Mail on Sunday ended in the seventh round. They had reached the last 32 in the country but were beaten 3.5-1.5 by Pleasington.

Lady Captain’s Day at Sale saw Brig Elmore collect Carol Broadbent’s top prize with a super haul of 43 points, leaving her three clear of Dorothy Anderson.

Ashton-on-Mersey’s men played for the Vice Captain’s Prize and M Cousen was a clear winner with 67.

In a Fantasy pro-am at Ashton Robert Palmer was the main man with 68 from Roger McCall (70).

Mersey ladies played for Mrs Plenderleith’s Prize and it was won by J Mitchell with 36 points from J Young 33.

Mellor and Townscliffe Golf Club will be staging their fourth Annual Pub Team Golf Championship on September 7.

Local pubs can enter teams of four players, with the am-am format open to both men and ladies. Entry costs £80 per team. Call club pro Gary Broadley on 0161 427 5759 or 0161 427 2208 for details.

There are still a few vacant slots in the Stamford Mixed Open Greensome on Sunday, September 7. For details contact professional Mark Smith on 01457 832126.

n TO get your golf news in this report email Geoff Garnett on: ggggarnett@aol.com

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