Golf NOW Regional Golf NORTH

Founded in 1906 and redesigned in 1923 by the best Golf course architect of his day, Dr Alister Mackenzie, South Leeds has spectacular views over the city of Leeds. If you are a low or a high handicap player you will find South Leeds a very enjoyable experience. Our greens are as good if not better than some of the more well known Golf courses in Leeds, small and undulating, a very good test of your putting ability. more info...

Strong showing nets Howarth shot at English title

Scott Howarth muscled his way around Oulton Hall with an impressive 64 to cement his place in the inaugural Business Fort English PGA Championship in association with Cobra and 59club. The Stockport PGA pro from Marple Golf Club, mounted the strongest challenge to top the 19 qualifiers with a seven-under-par round that included an eagle and six birdies.His only blemish came with a bogey on the 517-yard par 5 third hole but it was a rare error in a near spotless performance by the 29-year-old who can look forward to competing in the £30,000 final at Goodwood Golf Club from July 22-24.Howarth, whose brother Jamie played in the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale.

Also enjoying a good day on the greens was former North Region No. 1 Nick Ludwell from Selby Golf Club whose 65 featured seven birdies and put him two shots ahead of a quartet including Bridlington Links' Alex Belt - the 2009 Welsh Young Open PGA champion.The final two places were decided after a mammoth eight man play-off and they went to Steven Harrison (Stocksfield) who birdied the first play off hole on the 10th with Jason Proctor (Shay Grange) grabbing the last spot with a birdie on the par five 12th to edge out James Whatley (East Midlands Golf Academy).

You ARE in the team!

DAVID Simpson, left out of the Cumbria side that lost to Yorkshire on his home course Penrith, played himself straight back in after winning the Penwortham (pictured) Rose Bowl in late May. The 20-year-old scratch man strung together rounds of 71 and 73, six-over-par in total, to prevail by three shots from the host club’s Craig Bolton. After phoning his county captain Martin Hand with the news Simpson was told he would be in the side to face Durham at Bishop Auckland in July.

Horsforth ladies beat the elements

On Tuesday 11 April Horsforth (pictured) Ladies took part in the EWGA Medal, Peace & Newby Qualifier, with a total of 40 entries in the EWGA and 20 apiece in the Peace and Newby qualifiers, with 8 going forward to the matchplay rounds in both qualifiers. The Ladies were treated to various weather conditions, including the edge of a hailstorm, blustery weather and sunshine. Peace qualifiers - N Beck,S Walters, L Hugill,B Wallace, S Lapsley / 2nd Division -S Heath A Phillips C Walker / Newbie qualifiers - E Mather, J Scott, J Read, S Coverdale, J Cooper, P Taylor, B Tomlinson, M Timm. Well done ladies!

Emily Taylor wins girls’ title

Lancashire’s Emily Taylor (pictured) won the girls’ championship at the Fairhaven Trophies – helped by a new course record in the final round. Emily (Royal Lytham & St Annes) rounded off the 72-hole tournament at Fairhaven Golf Club with a three-under par 72,compiled in a cold north-easterly wind.The 15-year-old did exactly the same last month when she set a new course record in the final round of the Scottish U16 strokeplay championship to win that title. This time, Emily leapfrogged Brogan Townend (Pleasington) and Bronte Law (Bramhall) to win by two shots. Brogan beat Bronte in a card play-off to take second place. Bronte teamed up with Matthew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire, Yorkshire) and Kieron Fowler (Spain) to win the Nations Cup for Engl and. They were six shots clear of their closest rivals.

Catterick ladies reporting

April saw the Ladies at Catterick playing their first Medal of the season in very windy conditions. In first place was Marion Palmer with a net 74 (on count back) Susan Dines on 74 was second, reports Mairi Young. On Saturday 10 April the ladies competed for the Mary Blissett Trophy - 1st was Denny Shovlin 34 points 2nd Paula Hamer - 33 points and sharing 3rd - Cath McMahon and Joan Braginton both with 32 points. Mairi says; "At last something to smile about, "the weather" for the day was pleasant for the first board competition of the year, the "Champion of Champions" plus extra medal. It was fine and dry allowing for some excellent scores." Div one winners - R Letts 77-67, A Lincoln 78-68, S Mead 77-70. Div Two - S Sullivan 79-66, D McDougall 89-69, K Berry 84-70. Div Three -G Angdembe 93-65, J Timlin 95-69, M Freear 101-73.

History boy Winstanley

IAN Winstanley (pictured) announced his return to full-time golf after completing his studies by winning the Crosby Challenge Plate at wind-swept West Lancs. He is hoping history will repeat itself because after his victory over the Blundellsands links five years ago he went on to claim his first Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit title.

The 22-year-old Cheshire County player, who also won the Crosby Challenge Plate in 2006, clearly has a liking for one of the most testing courses in the region – he finished leading amateur in the Players’ Tour fixture earlier in the same week.

Jeff is new Lancs sec

JEFF Mathews has pledged to tap into what he describes as the “great potential” in Lancashire after taking over as the county PGA secretary. “We have 142 clubs with some fantastic courses ranging from links to moorland and parkland so I believe we have a lot to offer sponsors,” said the 48-year-old Mytton Fold professional. Former European Tour player Mathews, born in the North East but who has lived in Lancashire for more than 20 years, is a hands-on operator who designed and built a par three course at Samlesbury Driving Range which he recently sold. He was handed the reins by the Bolton-based PGA North Region who will continue to administer the events as they have since the late 1980s.

De Vere Slaley Hall added schedule

The PGA EuroPro Tour has announced that the 2009 Tour Championship venue De Vere Slaley Hall will host a Tour event this August. The Northumberland venue was one of three courses to host the first stage of Qualifying School in March and will open its doors to the players again from August 25-27. “We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the PGA EuroPro Tour Championships at the end of last season and are delighted to further our involvement with the Tour this year,” said Daniel Hodson, Director of Golf and Leisure for De Vere. “We are committed to supporting the game across all levels, from our new De Vere Club membership scheme which offers flexible membership to all eleven of our championship venues, to the PGA Seniors Championship and two PGA EuroPro Tour events, and we’re looking forward to another exciting season of championships in 2010. I am sure the EuroPro players will enjoy the different tests provided by the Hunting and Priestman courses, and will offer a great showcase of golf for the North-East.”

Tee up for talent

Gateshead College is working with one of the region’s finest golf courses - Matfen Hall – in a move which sees it become the first North East college to offer a Golf Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme. The programme was launched at Matfen Hall where a number of Gateshead College’s Golf Academy students participated in a driving, chipping, pitching and putting skills’ master class under the expert eye of club head professional John Harrison. The apprenticeship, which is backed by England Golf, will be open to gifted young players aged 16 – 19, including those already at the college’s Golf Academy, who demonstrate that they have the potential for a career on the professional golf tour.

And in a further move to cement the new partnership, the college will be hosting its College Championship at Matfen Hall next June where club professionals will be on hand to provide expert advice at a special pre-tournament clinic. The English Golf Union has also endorsed the course, whose regional development officer Jason Budd, said: “Nurturing young talent is important to secure the long term future of golf at all levels regionally and nationally.”

Driving force: our picture shows (l-r) Alan Snowdon, James Gerencser, Jason Budd, John Harrison, Sam Dewar and Andrew McCarrick teeing off at Matfen Hall to launch the college’s new apprenticeship.

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