Second in a series of articles looking back at golfing success in this area over the 2021 summer...

DELAMERE Forest Golf Club staged the first Cheshire Championship in 1921 and 100 years later were magnificent hosts for a terrific competition.

And it was fitting to have a home winner in record-breaking style!

The club provided a stunning course in fantastic condition and the usual excellent hospitality and organisation off the course to make it a truly memorable occasion for players and spectators.

The county officials provided great organisation to see the competition run smoothly and were blessed with excellent weather, managing to avoid some very heavy showers in the local area on the final day.

The hot standard was set in the first round led by county Junior Captain Matt Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool) and Ryan Owen (Styal), both 66, one ahead of James Ashfield (Delamere Forest) and Remy Miller (Prestbury).

The top team on the day was the Sandiway A team of Tom Duncalf, Rhys Nevin and Liam Gobin with a 279 aggregate, seven clear of Stockport and they go on to represent Cheshire in the National County Team Championships in Kent this month.

In round two the pace hotted up led by 65s from Luke Yardley (Stockport) and Ashfield, two more than Cheshire Team Captain Jon Beesley (Mere).

The field was cut to 40 players for the last two rounds on Day Three and it proved to be ‘moving day’ for the competition as Ashfield posted an incredible 63 to move nine shots clear of the field and 21 under par.

He was out on his own and maintained the momentum with a tidy 68 in the final round to finish 12 shots clear of Nevin, who won a card play-off on 275 from Sam Prince.

Ashfield’s score of 25 under par is believed to be a record for the competition and set a great standard for the CUGC’s second 100 years!

He won two other trophies as the Best Colt (under 22 years) and the best 36-hole score (132) for the first two rounds.

Nevin took the Israel Sidebottom Trophy as the runner-up and Beesley the over 35s prize.

The winners were presented with their prizes and trophies by CUGC President David Durling, who thanked Delamere Forest GC Captain Bob Lightowler for the splendid efforts the club had made for the competition and also the Cheshire officials and the players for their contribution to three great days of golf for the county.