ALDERLEY Edge Golf Club staged the first-ever County Nine-Hole Championship in England.

Setting the pace were the first players teeing off, Alderley Edge captain Bill Fisher, with 38 points, and playing partner, Sale junior Adam Carr, with 37, as their nine-hole scores had 18 points added.

Their scores proved to be too hot to handle with Carr winning the runners-up trophy after a card play-off with G Johnstone (Alderley Edge) and Tom Hollingworth (Prestbury).

Cheshire president Sean Ritchie said: “Cheshire are proud to be the first county in the country to hold a nine-hole championship and Alderley Edge provided a terrific course for the event, which had a good field of entrants and proved to be a great inaugural event with the youngest player being 10-year-old Aaron Lavelle, from Ringway.

“I would also like to thank all of the Cheshire officials for their excellent organisation and work on the day to make this a great starter for county nine-hole competitions across the country.”

Ritchie presented Fisher with his winning trophy as well as a Cheshire plaque and a pair of county cuff links in recognition of Alderley Edge hosting the event.

The Manchester and District Alliance kicked off its winter season on a pleasant day on a well-presented course at Marple Golf Club with the new Alliance captain, John Davies, enjoying the company of the Marple professional Jimmy Lister and captain Pat Dunion and his own partner Ollie Smith (Ashton-on-Mersey).

The battle has commenced for the professional Order of Merit and staking an early claim for the title were Craig Corrigan and Paul Granell (Vale Royal Abbey), who tied for top individual spot with 37 points, one more than Ollie Pantoja (Ashton-on-Mersey).

Pantoja topped the pro-am section with club colleague Steve McDermott helping amass 44 points, one more than Craig Corrigan and Paul Cooney (Wigan) and Paul Grannell and Sid Hodkinson (Marple).

The familiar names of Marcus Corfield (Swinton Park) and Dave Smith (Ellesmere) led in the am-am section with 43 points from Vinny Doyle and Peter Dean (Leigh) and Mike Lynch (Chorlton) on 41 and Pete Hamlett (Ashton-on-Mersey) on 39.