Richard provides sting in tail for Cup win

THE Balfour and Houldsworth Committee have been running top golf competitions for members of golf clubs within 25 miles of Manchester Town Hall for well over 100 years.

- GEOFF GARNETT

The B and H have magnificent trophies for the top two competitions originally donated by Messrs Balfour and Houldsworth, mill owners and MP's.

The Balfour Cup was presented to the Golf Clubs of Manchester in 1897 by Lord Arthur BalfourMP for Manchester East.

They run four competitions a year and the second one this year, a singles competition for the Balfour Cup, was held at Bramall Park GC - the first B and H competition they have ever hosted.

Park put on a great show for a full field and were thanked by B and H President Keith Dingley.

Keith thanked the green-staff for the excellent work they had done on the course.

He also thanked the Catering Staff for the excellent service provided to the players during the course of a long day and the officers and members of Bramall Park for their support.

His final thanks went to the B and H committee members for their great work in preparing the competition.

After a heavy early downpour of rain the weather relented to allow a dry finish to the competition.

The early leader was Richard Mallard (Chorlton GC), who won the competition in 1991 who posted 68 to lead for an hour.

Matthew Davies (Styal) won a cpo on 67 from David Flint (Houldsworth) and joining Richard Mallard on 68 was Stephen Henderson (Houldsworth) who finished in fourth spot from Richard fifth.

But as so often in golf there was a sting in the tail with Styal Captain Richard Johnson posting 66 to win the Balfour Cup.