ASHTON-on-Mersey Golf Club has a proud record of producing junior golfers who have gone on to make a career and a name for themselves in the sport they love.

These include legends such as top professional David Screeton and Cheshire star Kevin Kean.

The latest junior golfer who looks set to have a bright future in the sport is 13-year-old Gemma Clews.

Gemma, a student in Year 8 at Ashton-on-Mersey Sports College, plays girls’ soccer with Sale United.

She is a member of the Greater Manchester Centre of Excellence and has represented Manchester at football.

But, with her dad Paul and mum Jackie both being keen golfers at Ashton, it was inevitable that sports-mad Gemma would give golf a go.

She took up the sport in 2006, beginning with a handicap of 36 which plummeted to 14 following several club competition wins.

Most recently Gemma was runner-up in the Lady Captain’s Prize for juniors, behind Junior Captain Ollie Jones, and she won the Lady Captain’s Souvenir competition by six shots, posting a nett 71 to drop her handicap to 12.7.

Since then success in other top club competitions has seen her handicap drop further to eight.

Gemma’s talent was spotted by Cheshire girls, who she has represented in several matches.

She receives coaching from Didsbury professional Peter Barber, who looks after the Cheshire juniors.

Gemma feels that her strong points in the game are her iron play and chipping and that with some hard work has achieved her aim of a single-figure handicap by the end of the season.

She said: "I love playing golf and I would like to thank my parents, club members, assistant professional Rory Walsh and the club officials for all of their help and encouragement."

The Jubilee Plate for Sale’s top aggregates has been won in the nett section by Rory Sullivan on 335 from Gerard Clarkin (343).

Sullivan was runner-up in the gross prize, after being beaten in a card play-off by Kevin Moore (362).

Also in the frame were Steve Price (363) and Tom Bullough (381).

Hazel Grove’s professional and Manchester Alliance captain James Hopley led from the front as a full field of professionals and amateurs enjoyed the Sandiway course.

Hopley and his Grove amateur partner Clive Beveridge posted an impressive 45 points to finish two points clear of Stamford duo Mark Smith and Ian Trow.

There was a three-way tie on 42 points with Mike Hollingworth (Denton) and Ian Gibson (Romiley) getting the nod from Tom Bolton (Hazel Grove) and Syd Hodkinson (Marple) and John Farmer (Wychwood Park) and Ron Kinsey (Alsager).

The top individual pro on the day was Dukinfield’s David Green with 38 points.

Tameside continued to make their mark in the prizes as Fairfield duo Jim Cooper and Alex Dawber topped the am-am section with 45 points ahead of Swinton Park’s Ged Tatum and Paul Barlow (43) and Stamford’s Keith Coxon and Guy Hall (42).

Winter golf is now in full flow and will continue at all clubs until next March.

To get your results, achievements and special events in this report contact Geoff Garnett on 0161 881 7550 or email ggggarnett@aol.com

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