HOUGHWOOD is one of the newer golf clubs on the huge Manchester Alliance circuit but the club certainly put on the style to provide a great venue for the latest Alliance fixture, sponsored by Mark Gregory of M-Pire Golf.

The challenge of the Houghwood course was reflected in the lowering of the recent high scores in the Alliance fixtures but it did not prevent Knutsford pro Tim Maxwell showing his class as he led in the individual pro section with 41 points, one more than Colin Moroney and Dave Green (Dukinfield).

Oldham’s Andy Earlam was delighted to win the pro-am section with his club partner Graham Pendleton helping him to 44 points.

Hot on their heels with 43 were Stand duo Mark Hancock and Norman Haslam, who won a card play-off from Dave Green and his Ashton-on-Mersey partner Steve Hamlett, and Colin Moroney and Adrian Rodgers (Harwood).

Top of the am-am section were some familiar names topped by Alliance treasurer Vinny Doyle (Leigh) and his Blackley partner Mike Smith with 44 points.

One off their hot pace were Marcus Corfield (William Wroe) and Dave Smith (Ellesmere) and completing the prize winners were Oldham’s Steve Daubney and Peter Barrington with 42.

The Balfour and Houldsworth (B&H) golf competitions were established in 1897 with the aim of encouraging and promoting amateur golf within a 20-mile radius (recently extended to 25 miles) of Manchester town hall.

The original founders were Hon AJ Balfour and Sir William Henry Houldsworth and the voluntary B&H committee now organises five top-class competitions for amateur golfers each year drawn from the 171 eligible clubs.

The competitions in 2017 begin with the Balfour Cup, a singles medal, at Stand Golf Club on May 21 and continue with the Houldsworth Cup, a BB bogey, at Worsley on June 18, the GS Lancashire Trophy, mixed BB Stableford, at Davyhulme Park on July 9, the Seniors Balfour, BB Stableford, at Northenden on August 16 and finishing with the Junior Balfour, singles medal for boys and girls, on September 10 at Flixton.

To find out more or to book a slot, check out the website at www.balfourandhouldsworth.co.uk.