WITHINGTON Golf Club provided a fine and fitting venue, both on and off the course, for the Manchester Alliance’s President’s Day to conclude the winter programme.

There were three major trophies on offer as well as plenty of other prizes to play for by a full field with the competition hosted by the Alliance’s long-serving president John Dowd.

The President’s Cup goes to the best nett score on the day and Disley GC assistant pro Ian Ridgway looked to have taken it for a long time with his fine three-under-par score of 68.

But at the end Marriott Worsley Park’s chief Derek Harvey matched this with a return of nett 68 but the cpo went in favour of Ridgway who also won the top pro score with 68 from Adam Hodkinson (Chorlton) 69 and Craig Corrigan, Steve Parry (Hart Common) and Mark Smith (Stamford) all 71.

The other big competitions came in the final battle for the two Order of Merit trophies with the top three players playing alongside each other on the day.

The proud winner was Corrigan who triumphed over Parry and Graham Cox (Lymm).

In the battle for the assistant professional’s Order of Merit, Hodkinson came out on top ahead of Andy Palmer (Chorley) and Ollie Pantoja (Ringway).

The Amateur Order of Merit was taken by Andrew Fletcher of Bolton Old Links from Jimmy O’Reilly (Swinton Park) and Lee Warren (Northenden).

The amateur medal winner was Harvey with his 68 return taking him home from Len O’Hagan (Pike Fold) and Dave Hemingway (Chorley) both 71.

The top score in the guests and sponsors section was won by Disley pro Scott Jackson with 72 – one less than Steve Hindle (Marriott Worsley Park) and Vinny Doyle (Leigh).

President John Dowd, a former captain of Flixton Golf Club, then recognised Alliance captain, Davyhulme Park’s Doug Craig’s, record year of competition cancellations by presenting him with an umbrella.

Dowd also paid tribute to all of the Alliance officials who had worked hard in a very difficult winter, the excellent hosting of Withington Golf Club and all of the players who continue to make the Alliance such a thriving organisation.