Hibbert marks club centenary in super style

11:40am Thursday 21st August 2008

HILARY Hibbert clinched her first victory in the Bolton Challenge Bowl in the same year that her club Turton celebrates its centenary.

The former Bolton champion produced consistent golf in at times driving rain to win the competition held for the first time at Westhoughton.

On the opening day early entrants had to contend with light rain and average scores were in the high 70s but as the weather improved the scores dropped.

At the end of the day four competitors all returned a nett 72. They were Hibbert, Fennella McMullan (Bolton), Ivy Brown (Deane) and Carol Helme (Old Links), who finished with a gross score of 78 and now holds the course record.

A total of 16 players with handicaps up to 25 returned to play another 18 holes.

Despite the heavy rain the leaders once again returned excellent scores with 14 handicapper Debbie Winstanley Dacre, from Westhoughton, scoring a nett 68 for an 18-hole total of 143.

However, Hibbert, playing off 19 scored a 69 nett to achieve a grand total of 141.

This year saw the introduction of a second trophy for ladies with handicaps 26 to 36.

The best 10 scorers returned the following day when only six shots separated them.

Pat Jones (Deane) had a magnificent second round to finish in overall second place behind Kathy Osborn, on her home course, who finished just one shot ahead. She has only been playing golf for just over 12 months and is setting her sights on the main trophy in a few years time.

As always the presentation is a special occasion with members of the Lever Family travelling from Lytham to present the prizes.

This year Diana Lever (President of the Challenge Bowl) came with her daughter Clemmie and they enjoyed a lovely meal with the officials of Westhoughton prior to the prizegiving.

Liz Wilbur who has been involved with the organisation of the competition since 2000 will at the annual meeting in November hand over the reins to Mavis Haslam and Karon Unsworth from Dunscar.

Challenge Bowl: 1. Hilary Hibbert (Turton) 72-69-141; 2. Debbie Winstanley (Dacre Westhoughton) 75-68-143; 3. Ivy Brown (Deane) 72-75-147.

Higher Handicap Trophy: 1. Kathy Osborn (Westhoughton) 81-74-155; 2. Pat Jones (Deane) 83-73-156; 3. Gloria Baker (Deane) 76-80-156.

Constance Lever Trophy: 1. Old Links 222; 2. Westhoughton 224.

Monday Prizewinners Division One: 1. Fenella McMullen (Bolton) 86-14-72 (cpo); 2. Carol Helme (Old Links) 76-6-72.

Division Two: 1. Ann Longworth (Deane) 105 -27-78; 2. Penny Mather (Old Links) 108-29-79.