IT WAS a partnership which began by chance but has achieved great success as Allan Entwistle and Barbara Shuttleworth won the Millgate Trophy at Saddleworth Golf Club for a third time.
“Ten years ago, the person who was supposed to be partnering Allan dropped out and I stepped up at short notice which is how it started,” explained Barbara after her latest triumph in the open mixed foursomes.
Since then they have teamed up once a year for the event winning it three times in that period.
Diggle-based Barbara, a 25-handicapper explained: “It is the only major I have won, though Allan, who plays off five, has his name on the board for most of the competitions.
“The second victory was special as it was the 50th anniversary of the Millgate. Allan mentioned this was may be our last year as we had been playing it for 10 years.
“We went out and played as though it was our last competition, but maybe we will have to come back and defend our title next year.”
Allan, a former Saddleworth captain, is also from Diggle and runs a family plumbing business in Uppermill.
If it was to be their last competition, they went out in style winning with a score of 63 which was seven shots clear of Adam and Tracey Rowbotham from Werneth. Third place went to Ian Cash and Debra Cockburn with 71.
Werneth’s Lee Rowbotham and Fiona Dooley shot 76, the best gross score which won them the Eric Milne Trophy.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Fancy’s victory in the President’s Prize, a 36-hole major, came as a surprise.
“I hadn’t been playing well so it came out of the blue,” explained the 27-year-old build manager with a telecoms company.
Jonathan, who lives in Denshaw, knew he was capable of winning a major as he has previously triumphed in Vice-Captain’s Prize.
And after his latest success, Jonathan’s handicap has been cut by two shots to six, the lowest it has ever been.
Jonathan had rounds of 72-8-64 and 77-6-71 for a two-round total of 135, three clear of runner-up Neil Bamford (67 and 71 for 138). Third was Roger Devy (71 and 69 for 140).
Saddleworth also hosted the Oldham and District Four-Man Team Championship and their golfers ended up claiming the first three places.
The winners were Roy Dobson, Mike Shore, Martin Heap and John Davis with 84pts in the Stableford.
Runners up were Gary Simpson, Dave, Steve and Ben Pullen (83) while third place went to Lee Melia, John Fancy, Mick Harrington and Alan Squires (81).
David Fox won the Jubilee Trophy with 43 points in the Stableford. Second was David McNeill (40pts) on the card from Nigel Cooper.
And another piece of silverware contested was the J W Holt Trophy which was won by Simon Halliwell (74-5-69) on the card from Martin Wray (90-21-69).
Saddleworth’s Am-Am saw Chris Whitehead and Graham Young from Halifax and Bingley triumph with a score of 42 points.
Runners-up were David Fox and Graham Hobbs (41pts) on the card from home pair Ken Barnes and Andy Dunster who were third.
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