CHESTER Golf Club provided a challenging course in pristine condition for the annual Junior Team Championships for the fourth time in the history of the tournament.

There was a good field of juniors from clubs across the county looking to finish in top spot and represent Cheshire in the National Finals at Woodhall Spa next month.

With the top two nett Stableford scores counting, Royal Liverpool set a strong target of 74 points, with 37 points each for Patrick Delaney and Hayat Leung backed by 27 points from Matthew Dodd-Berry.

Their nearest challenge came from Ringway Golf Club, who finished with 72 points, from Ben Lee 38 and their junior captain Bronte Ward (34) followed by William Lord (25).

The team with the top gross score was Prestbury, who posted 65 points with 34 from Tom Kirton and Matthew Delaney and Josh Turnock, both 31.

Bramhall were level on points thanks to Archie Palmer (33) and Ross Clewley (32), but lost out on a lower third score of 28 from James Cash.

The top individual gross prize was won by Prestbury’s Kirton, who followed up his great performance by finishing runner-up in the Cheshire matchplay championships, with his 34 points taking him one clear of Bramhall’s Palmer.

The best individual nett prize saw Zach Smyth (Lymm) win with an impressive 38 points, two more than Ringway’s Lee.

Chester president John Clark received a plaque for the club for hosting the event and a set of Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs cufflinks.

It is getting hot in the Manchester and District Alliance Inter-Club Knockouts, the biggest in the country, as the competition has now reached round two and the last 32 clubs.

In the Dunham Forest Trophy (holders Leigh), featuring the professional and top six amateurs, the draw involving local clubs is: Pike Fold v Withington, Crewe v Didsbury and Ringway v Ellesmere.

In the City Glass Men’s Foursomes (holders Blackley) the draw for local clubs is: High Legh Park v Chorlton and Didsbury v Brookdale.