RINGWAY Golf Club's Ron Harrison first made his mark in Cheshire golf in 1966 when he became the second winner of the boys' championships.

Harrison was then a member of Romiley Golf Club and the championship was played at Ringway, where he became a member a few years ago.

Over the past 50 years he has played a major role in Cheshire golf, being the county president in 2013 and he was a leading member of the successful Cheshire seniors team who won the national championships, as well as being team captain for the Cheshire team.

One title that eluded him in the past decade was the Cheshire Seniors Strokeplay Championship.

But his dream was finally realised at Crewe Golf Club, the home club of Cheshire president Roy Smethurst, who provided a challenging course.

Harrison showed his intent in round one as he posted a best-of-the-day 71 to give him a two-shot edge over Chris Mitchelson (Prenton) and Phil Wicks (Wilmslow) with the top three going out in the final group on the second day.

It was a keen contest with all players dropping shots and coming back with birdies to take it down to the final hole, where a regulation par gave Harrison a 77 return, with the 76 from Mitchelson not being enough.

The best second score of 73 came from a previous winner, Dave Baker, of Malkins Bank GC.

Harrison will now go to the county finals at Woodhall Spa in September and he was delighted to be presented with the championship trophy by county legend Smethurst.

There were plenty of trophies on offer for the best gross and nett scores in the A, B, C and D age categories with no player able to win two prizes on the day.

Among those receiving trophies were Phil Wicks, David Hughes (High Legh Park), Tim Daggett (Ringway), M Fisher (Alderley Edge), Phil Slater (Sandiway), RWR Walker (Crewe), Ken Thomson (Bramall Park) and Rodney Gorton (Stockport).

The Manchester and District Golf Alliance is the biggest and busiest organisation of its kind in the country with well over 110 member clubs enjoying the chance to compete in a wide variety of competitions throughout the year.

The new winter season begins on September 7 at Fairfield GC with its superb new clubhouse and revamped course providing a great start for the professionals and amateurs who tee up each week, apart from a mid-winter break, until the end of April 2017 on president’s day at Bramhall.

Members of all affiliated clubs can enter the weekly competitions and details of entry can be found on the website www.mdga.org.uk or via secretary Ian Hales on email mdgainfo@yahoo.co.uk or 07980 449614.

The Alliance also runs the very popular and competitive inter-club team knockouts throughout the summer and the 2016 finals will be taking place during September and October.