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Watkinson wins classic

Ian Ogden
19/ 5/2007

APPALLINGLY wet conditions on Sunday afternoon could not halt Aaron Watkinson's charge in the prestigious 36-hole Hopwood Classic at Manchester.

Indeed, as the conditions worsened his golf improved. The four handicapper shot a gross 78 in the morning, but then went four shots better second time round for a nett total of 144.

His total was matched by Michael White, playing off five, but the title went to Watkinson on a countback. Third, one stroke further back, was one handicapper Matthew Hough.

Paul Cobby's long search for form appears to be over.

After a poor run in the winter league, and an indifferent start to the Rochdale season, in which he lost his single-figure status, he bounced back in Tuesday's monthly medal with a gross 76, a score shared by Mark Diggle in Division Three and junior Mark Stephenson.

Saturday's medal competition at Whittaker produced a runaway winner in Richard McKendry (9), whose 63 was five better than Dave Connor and Alan Leigh.

Arthur Sanderson enjoyed his weekend at Tunshill. He was a member of the threeball which came second in Saturday's Texas scramble and then went one better in winning Sunday's John Gilbert Masters with a 66. He edged out Phil Lowthian by one.