August 2002
Three years after Paul Rowbotham won the club championship with a 36-hole gross score of 141, his 17-year-old son, Lee, has also won the title after a thrilling six-hole play-off with Michael Hulme – the first junior in the club’s history to achieve this distinction.
The pair had identical rounds of 68 and 69 to tie on 137.
But, despite dropping only one shot to par during their two rounds, nerves got to both young men when they tackled the extra holes.
Both three-putted on the first (their 19th), for one-over-par fives, and took five again on the second.
Michael edged ahead on the third, but Lee levelled matters at the fifth – going on to win the title with a birdie on the short sixth.
Said the new champion, who plays off a handicap of five (just like his dad): “There’s no doubt we both suffered from nerves during the extra holes.”
Lee is the eldest of Paul’s three sons – Aaron (13), and Adam (12) are also regularly among the prizewinners in the club’s open age and junior events.
Indeed, only three days after Lee’s championship triumph, young Aaron came third in his age group in the Weetabix championship played at Howley Hall, Leeds, despite having a ten on his card.
And let the ladies be warned – their mum has now taken up the game!
Club secretary John Barlow took first prize on Captain’s day after playing some of the best golf of his life.
In the morning round, the 12-handicapper dropped only one shot to post a net score of 57.
This was all the more remarkable since he did not have a single birdie on his card – his Faldo-type round comprised 17 pars and a bogey at the third.
“When I went out again, the pressure was unbelievable,” he said. “I had to keep telling myself that I mustn’t throw away such a great opportunity to win.”
His nerve held, however, and his second round 78 enabled him to card a splendid 36-hole net score of 123.
But it was a close run thing. Runner-up Mark Routledge, with scores of 76-12-64 and 72-12-60, was only one shot adrift at the close.
The best gross prize went to 3-handicapper Les Dooley with two marvellous two-under-par rounds of 66.
With prizes restricted to one per winner, Paul Walker qualified for the first division prize in the first round with a score of 75-13-62, with the second division honour going to Ron Schora (85-23-62).
Terry Marner was the first division winner in the afternoon (73-10-63), with new member Austin Ogden, playing in only his second competition, taking the second division prize with a score of 79-17-62
The fine weather was matched by some equally fine golf when the club held its Mixed Open event last month – though the number of teams taking part was disappointing.
The quartet of Paul Walker, Hilda Garner, Paul Rowbotham, and Sheila Whittingham eventually won with a score of 86 points to thwart Peter and Marilyn Griffin and their friends from Crompton and Royton, John and Dorothy Nicholson, on a card playoff.
Third were Les and Fiona Dooley, John Barlow and Wendy Ryan with 85 points.
The experienced trio of Terry Marner, John Stockley, and Les Lawton, with a combined age of 200 years, showed younger members that there’s plenty of life in the old dogs yet with an eclectic score of 53 (15 under par), during a friendly game.
They birdied all but one of the five par threes.
Club champion Lee Rowbotham joined a seniors’ outing to Whitefield to caddie for his grandfather, Tom, only to be pressed into service as an honorary veteran when the team found itself a player short.
Partnered by 24-handicapper Keith Graham, and and with Lee playing with clubs borrowed from Whitefield’s assistant pro, the pair lost the first six holes.
Then Lee hit top form, driving the green on the 280-yard 10th and holing his putt for an eagle two. He followed this with his first-ever hole in one at the 195-yard 11th.
Despite their disastrous start, the pair eventually finished all square.
Despite more than two and a half days of continuous rain, the course recovered sufficiently to allow the Oldham and District Four Man Team Event to take place in pleasant conditions.
The winners were Alan Pope, Adrian Buckley, Ivan Slater, and Saul Slater, with a fine score of 95 pts.
Second, two points adrift, was the Brookdale quartet of Nicky Deme, Andrew Deme, R. Clough, and R.D. Clarke.
Third place went to the so-called “dream team” of Les Dooley, James Buckley, Paul Rowbotham, and son Lee, with 90 pts.
Not surprisingly, Lee Rowbotham dominated the junior events – adding the section’s championship to his senior title with yet another fine round of 69.
Michael Farrimond (87-24-63), took the best nett prize, with Jonathan Dooley (86-19-67), in second place.
In the under-14 age group, Aaron Rowbotham (86-14-72), thwarted younger brother Adam (94-21-73).
The 9-hole non-handicap section was won by Joshua Mulroy, with Neil Robinson taking second prize.
In the Daily Telegraph Championship Lee Rowbotham again took the honours with a one-under par gross score of 67.
The other places also had a familiar look – the best nett achieved by Michael Farrimond (85-24-61), with Jonathan Dooley (83-19-64), in second place.
Aaron Rowbotham (83-14-69) was the under-14 age group winner, nine shots better than runner-up Jonathan Wilde (94-16-78).
Alex Atkinson won the non-handicap section, with 10-year-old Thomas Fogo in second place.
Pauline Seville, with a round of 95-31-64, won the Handley Memorial board comp, with Brenda Jarvis (90-24-66), in second place.
On Invitation Day, secretary Fiona Dooley, partnered by Oldham’s Ann Ratchell, took first prize with 45 pts. Runners-up were Pauline Seville and Diane Williams, of Brookdale, with 40 pts.
A Francis Smith qualifier was won by Isobel Wright with a score of 95-28-67, and Fiona was again in winning form with 34 pts in a two-ball Stableford competition.
Lady Vice-Captain Ann Fallows and Diane Fletcher won a four-ball Stableford with 39 pts.
Former member Frank Lever and family, over from their home in Brisbane to see daughter Alison compete in the Commonwealth Games – she came fifth in the discus – have been looking up old friends.
Son Chris’s Australian girlfriend, Rachel, played the course with Joan Swindells but asked to miss out several holes, complaining that the day was too hot!
Frank, who moved Down Under twenty years ago, is due to retire a week after he returns home.
The Captain’s Charity Day, in aid of the Oldham branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society is to be held on Sunday, September 15 instead of Sunday, October 13.
Any prizes, or contributions for a raffle, would be greatly appreciated.
THE DEAL OF THE YEAR!
A Golf Day For Four At Mottram Hall.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR A GIVEAWAY £1 EACH UNTIL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.
ALREADY SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES.
ASK AT THE BAR – MAKE SURE YOU GET A PINK TICKET.
PROCEEDS TO CAPTAIN’S CHARITY.
Prize courtesy of Beer Sellers.