James Doodson is the proud new champion of Chorlton Golf Club after winning a nerve-jangling battle for the coveted title that went to an 18-hole play-off.

James joined the club as an 11-year-old junior in 1991 alongside his long-serving dad John and soon showed great promise as a junior and then a full member largely in the single-figure handicap bracket for many years.

He has been a regular on the Chorlton teams for many years, winning plenty of club competitions and also had success in the Balfour and Houldsworth competitions plus several near misses on the elusive club championship which gives him a prime parking spot at the club for the next 12 months.

James, handicap four, said: "For many years Cheshire regular and our top golfer Phil Bolton made the parking spot his own and, after an opening round of 75 in the 36-hole championship, I had plenty to do to make my mark and there are several other top low-handicap players at the club looking to win the title.

"Then in round two I got my act together and posted a 67 which left me level with Mike Keegan on 142 to force the 18-hole medal play-off.

"I kept up my second round form with a 72 to finish five shots clear of Mike to achieve one of my long-standing playing ambitions at Chorlton."

Chorlton ladies played a Club Trophy qualifier and Sarah Miles took Division One after a cpo on -2 from Gerry Gee and Maggie Morgan led in Division Two on +1.

There was a terrific battle for the Arthur Woodyear Shield for Didsbury juniors over 36 holes.

It went to the wire of a cpo on 138 with Sam Garnett getting the nod over Junior Captain Will Hartley.

Medal action for Didsbury’s men saw the divisions won by Barney Ross 66, Adam John son 63 and Iain Campbell 67.

Jef Brothwell had the best gross of 71 and Ted Biddlecombe was top vet with 67.

A midweek medal at Withington had Ron Heale winning a cpo on 70 from Fred Lilley.

Withington ladies were in EWGA medal mode and topping the divisions were Carol Southern 75, and Pat Rogers 76.

There will be a play-off at Northenden for the New Course Trophy after a three-way tie on 67 by John Dwyer, Tom Rogers and Peter Cavanagh with Andrew Taylor a shot off the pace.

Northenden Lady Captain Hazel Tunnicliffe has two good reasons to celebrate as the Northenden ladies team reached the MDLGA Bell Cup finals day after a 4-3 win over Wigan and will meet Warrington in the semi-finals.

Then she won a singles Stableford with her 33 points seeing her six clear of the field.

Also in the first two months of the new season the Alliance will be concluding their popular Inter Club knock outs for the Dunham Forest Trophy, The City Glass Mens foursomes, the Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes and the Williams BMW Junior Team challenge.

Vinny Doyle said: "It’s a privilege to serve the biggest and busiest Alliance in the country as captain. "

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