ASHTON-on-Mersey Golf Club are currently claiming a unique playing record in the long history of the Manchester and District Golf Alliance as they currently hold four of the top trophies on offer.

Ashton’s professional Kris Andrews explained: “The White Cup for Mixed Pairs, which is hosted each year at Chorlton, was won by myself and England international Gemma Clews, who has just joined the professional playing ranks so will be unable to be my partner when we defend the trophy in 2018.

“I also partnered Paul Brough in the competition for the Leo Feeney Trophy at Hazel Grove, which we won in 2016 and successfully defended our trophy last year.

“Then my two assistant professionals struck early in the current Alliance winter season to bring back two more ‘major’ trophies.

“Ollie Pantoja and Steve McDermott won the Robert Wax Trophy at Marple Golf Club and then Olly Smith partnered McDermott to victory at Didsbury Golf Club to win the Bert Thompson Trophy.

“We have a very competitive atmosphere in the shop between myself and my two assistants, so we are always trying to get a win against each other.

“Hopefully the record will stand for a long time and, you never know, we could do it again in the future.

“Gemma Clews turning professional and playing in her first professional event on the LPGA tour, the New Zealand open, is without doubt the highlight of the Pro shop year.

“On a personal level I feel immensely proud of where Gemma has got to with her career as I have been on the bag a few times this season in some of the big amateur events and I have seen first hand the amazing talent she has and also witnessed it over in New Zealand while caddying for her.

“I have no doubt she is going to go on and become one of the leading lady professional golfers England has got and will have a very successful professional golf career."

It was close in a better ball Stableford at Ashton with P Graham and N Seabright in charge with 41 points, one more than C Butterworth and N Walsh, D Lewis and B Kennedy, G and M Hughes and J and J Hall.