SALE Golf Club men’s prize presentation dinner attracted a full house of members and distinguished guests from Dunscar and Worsley Golf Clubs as the ‘major’ trophies were handed out.

Sale captain Gareth Moore had a busy evening welcoming the guests, giving his annual report and handing out the bulk of the prizes.

He was delighted to present Tony Howarth with the Captain’s Prize after a stunning 11-under-par round of 129 left him four shots clear of the field.

The President’s Prize was won by Simon Hartland on the 18th green against Andrew Edmunds and president Carol Broadbent handed over the trophy to Hartland.

One of the most coveted trophies to be awarded is the Team Player of the Year and Moore was delighted to be presented with this by Andy McLaren and Tony Ball, having had a 100-per-cent record in his Mersey League matches.

Golfer of the Year awards went to Joshua Smith and John Russell, with the latter also picking up the Scratch Trophy for his 139 total on the day and the Scratch Knockout was taken by Mark Marshall.

The other trophy winners were Simon Poucher (five and six day members KO), Dave Falsey and Derek Bridgeman (fourball matchplay), Terry Crewe and Henry Hayes (foursomes matchplay), Mike Halkon (most improved golfer), Chris Gilkinson (Peace Cup), Calum Perry (Life Members' Cup) and Andy McFarlane (Philip Smith Trophy).

With many courses in the local area closed, the Manchester Alliance officials and players were delighted as Mottram Hall provided them with an excellent course for another full field in the final competition before the mid-winter break.

Chorley assistant professional Andy Palmer, just a few days before his wedding, shot a fine one-under-par 37 points to win the individual professional section from Graham Cox (Lymm) and Kieron Gaskell (Westhoughton), both 36.

The top assistant pro, with 34 points, was Jamie Howarth, of Davenport.

Davenport also featured in the pro-am prizes as ex-captain Chris Bamford partnered Graham Cox (formerly the assistant pro at Davenport) to a fine haul of 42 points to lead in from Ben Stanier (Wilmslow) and Chris Turner (Tytherington) on 41, and Grant Hamerton (Pike Fold) and Vinny Doyle (Leigh) who won a card play-off on 40 points from Alistair Waddell (Styal) and in-form Gary Brown (Marple) and their amateur partners.

Top of the am-am section were the formidable Lee Warren (Northenden) and Jimmy O’Reilly (Swinton Park), with 42 points, from Marcus Corfield (Swinton Park) and Dave Smith (Ellesmere), who won a card play-off on 40 from John Kilner and Duncan Bullough (Ellesmere).

The second half of the season begins at Houldsworth on January 17.