OLLY Smith began his golf as a junior at Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club after suffering a football injury and was quickly bitten by the golf bug.

He did well as a junior and went on to play for the full Cheshire team but then drifted away from the game for several years before deciding to give it another go and aim for a PGA qualification.

Smith worked for a few months at the driving range at Altrincham before it closed and was then delighted to be offered the role as assistant professional by Kris Andrew, the director of golf at Ashton.

He said: “It was a dream come true to return to my golfing roots at Ashton and was like returning home and meeting up with so many old friends.

“During my PGA course I am looking at developing, coaching and encouraging a thriving junior section at the club which has a proud record of producing top juniors over the years.

“I will also still be looking to play as much as I can in PGA competitions and the Manchester Alliance as well as coaching and looking after the pro shop at Ashton and I am delighted with the warm welcome I have received on my return to my golfing roots at the club.”

At last the Manchester Alliance players enjoyed a day of wall-to-wall sunshine at a glorious Vale Royal Abbey which provided a dry course in excellent condition.

There were some excellent scores led in by Bramall Park assistant pro Ollie Whiteley who topped the individual pro section with 40 points, two more than Steve Parry (Hart Common) and Phil Archer (Birchwood).

Whiteley, who also works as a photographic model, made it a double as partnered by club colleague Rob Harris, he led in a very competitive pro-am section with 43 points.

Next in on 42 were Ashton-under-Lyne’s hot duo of Mike Boyle and Andy Lomas with five pairs then locked on 41 points.

Winning the prizes on the card play-off were Mark Hancock and Scott Thomas (Cheadle) from Phil Archer and Mark Pasquill (Birchwood) and James Rowlands and Mike Jones (Hazel Grove).

There were familiar names in the am-am section led in by Lee Warren (Northenden) and Dave Hemingway (Chorley) with 43 points, three more than John Kilner and Neil Anderson (Ellesmere), who won a card play-off from Marcus Corfield (Hart Common) and Terry Gilbert (Davyhulme Park.