ASHTON-on-Mersey Golf Club were again excellent hosts for the Manchester Alliance matchplay finals day, sponsored by Ian Singleton of IDS Golf, for professionals and assistant professionals as all of the players enjoyed some excellent greens.

In the morning semi-finals Styal Golf Club assistant professional Alistair Waddell, the holder of the main professionals’ trophy, beat Ben Thompson (Hazel Grove) by 5&4 to make the assistant’s final to take on home player Olly Smith, who accounted for Davyhulme Park assistant Mike Lane by one-up.

In the main event there were two titanic semi-finals that saw Stand assistant pro Rob Batchelor come out on top to beat Chorley assistant pro Andy Palmer on the 22nd hole.

The other semi went to the 20th hole before 2016 champion Phil Archer (Poulton Park), who was a member of the winning GB and Ireland PGA team that beat the USA last year, accounted for Swinton Park Golf and Country Club professional Dave Smith.

Two more close finals followed this drama with Archer regaining the professional trophy with a 2&1 win against Rob Batchelor.

It went to the wire on the 18th hole in the assistant’s final with Waddell beating Smith by one hole.