FORMER Ringway Golf Club lady captain Glenys Ball is looking forward to her new role as captain of the prestigious Manchester and District Society of Past Lady Captains.

She succeeds Margaret Ashworth (North Manchester GC) and is urging all past lady captains from golf clubs based within a 25-mile radius of Manchester Town Hall to take part in the society competitions this season.

Mrs Ball began her golf at Brookdale Golf Club, moving to North Manchester GC in 1969 before joining Ringway GC in 1980 where she became the Ringway lady captain in 2004. Her best handicap was 14 and is now 18.

She said: “I am proud to be chosen as the captain of such a long-standing and distinguished group of golfing ladies and hope that we get full fields of players for our 2017 fixtures.

“The qualifying rounds for the society championship are at Dukinfield on Friday, June 9 and at Worsley on Thursday, July 13 with my club Ringway hosting the final on Friday, August 4.

“Our final event of the season is the annual lunch at Lancashire County Cricket Club on Wednesday, October 18.

“Details of competitions and entry will be sent to all of our clubs for players to enter and all past captains are most welcome to join in our competitions and annual lunch.

"Also, all past lady captains within the Manchester district are welcome to join the society and may do so by writing to Mrs G Ball c/o Ringway Golf Club.”

Denton Golf Club were excellent hosts for a quality field battling for the Manchester Alliance’s 36-hole stroke play championship.

It proved to be a top-quality contest in the professional section with vital points on offer for the Order of Merit title, now in its final few competitions, as well as the prestigious trophy.

Birchwood’s Phil Archer showed his class and European Tour experience as he set the early pace with a fine opening round of 68 that gave him the edge over Andy Palmer (Chorley) and Graham Cox (Lymm), both 70, and Mark Smith (Stamford) on 72.

Archer is the current leader in the professional Order of Merit and a tidy second round of 71 gave him a winning total of 139 and a more comfortable margin from his main rivals.

Chasing all the way were Steve Parry (Hart Common) and Graham Cox, both 141, Andy Palmer (142) and Rob Batchelor (Stand) and Alistair Waddell (Styal), both on 143.

The top amateur was Wychwood Park’s Paul Wilson with rounds of 76 and 71 for a winning total of 147, leaving him well clear of Mark Marshall (Denton) and Phil Cooney (Wigan).