IN 2016, Ashton-on-Mersey professional Kris Andrews and his amateur partner Paul Brough won the Leo Feeney Trophy for the first time in their club’s history.

Andrews vowed they would be back to retain the trophy in this year’s competition at the traditional host venue of Hazel Grove Golf Club.

The weather was fine and the course in excellent condition which was reflected in a string of high scores posted in all sections.

The top individual pro prize was shared by Graham Cox (Lymm) and Andy Palmer (Chorley), with 43 points, ahead of the 41-pointers from Dave Green (Dukinfield) and Tim Maxwell (Knutsford).

Cox made his a double success as he won the pro-am section with Lee Warren (Northenden) with a huge haul of 48 points, taking them clear of Martin Longshaw (Haigh Hall) and Daniel Moore (Haydock Park) who won a card play-off on 45 points from Andy Palmer and his Bolton partner Keith Ashton.

The am-am section again saw the dynamic duo of Marcus Corfield (Swinton Park) and Dave Smith (Ellesmere) once more top of the shop with 45 points ahead of Danny Fox and Steve Finan (Stamford) on 42 and their club colleagues Brian Thomas and Russell Lodge on 41.

But the sting in the tail came as the Leo Feeney Trophy can only be won by a pair from the same club and Andrews and Brough won a card play-off on 44 points from Davenport’s Tony Stevens and Reuben Fielding to retain the trophy, which joins the White Cup in their cabinet.