NEIL Stirling of Harwood won the Bolton Golf Association's Past Presidents Trophy over 36 holes at the newly formed championship course at Deane.

And he did it in style setting a new course record with a 65 gross in the opening match of the first round.

Neil, younger brother of professional golfer Donald Stirling, has been out of competitions for the past couple of years because of family commitments but he blasted back with a superb opening round that had three twos, one of them at the par four ninth hole!

The BGA committee apologises to those players who had to be balloted out but such was the demand that the competition began at 7.30am. In the second round, Dunscar's John Smethurst, who has recently returned to the area, recorded a second equal course record of 65 gross.

The winner of the 36 hole gross prize went to Gareth Hastie, Dunscar, who had rounds of 71 and 68 gross beating home club member Andy Runciman who had rounds of 70, 69.

The event was sponsored by Joseph Bailey & sons Ltd., Glass and China specialists, Knowsley Street, Bolton, and the prizes were presented by the BGA President Hugh Hunter.

Results (CSS 68 1st round. CSS 68 2nd round.):

Winner of the last President's Trophy: Neil Stirling, Harwood, 60-68=128, Runner up - John Smethurst - Dunscar, 68-61=129. Best gross 36 holes: Gareth Hastie, Dunscar, 71-68=139.

Best Net 1st round. Neil Stirling - Harwood, 60.

Best Net 2nd round: John Smethurst, Dunscar, 61.

Best Gross 1st round: Lee Davies, Hindley Hall, 69. Best Gross 2nd round: Steve Simpson, Deane, 66.

CLOSING dates for entries to the Bolton Golf Association Championship at Great Lever and Farnworth and the Higher Handicaps Competition at Breightmet Golf club must be returned to the BGA Secretary by first post on Saturday, May 25. GARY Amos, a new member of the Breightmet team, helped his side to a 4-4 draw against a much fancied team of Old Links in the BGA League.

He recorded his second win of the season beating Kevin McKenna 6 and 5.

The 1995 champions Deane, narrowly beat Hindley Hall 4-3 after Phil Standing, Deane came from behind and halved with Chris McKenna on the final green.

Alan Lowe halved with David Bentham; M Hunt lost to Geoff Davies 2 up; B Hill beat Howard Nightingate 3/2; R Walsh beat John Reynard 3/2; D Knott beat David Barr 6/5; M Smith beat Nigel Compsty 8/7; Colin McGreavy beat Phil Riding 4/2; M Longworth lost to M Hall 4/3.

Brian Sherborne lost to Bill Bromilow 2/1; Rod Jones beat Les Charnley 4/2; Stuart Southern beat David Proudfoot 3/2; Paul Bull lost to Mike Brindle 6/5; Bert Pye lost to Allan Smith 4/3; Jim Silcock beat David Holden 4/3; Brian Hill beat Andrew Tait 3/1; David Duerden beat Cliff Brindle 2 up.

Stuart Grime beat Gareth Hastie 1 up; Neil Stirling halved Mike Lay ; Joe Donnelly lost to Simon Moore 1 down; Howard Nicholson beat Ian Bond 5/4; Nigel Tebay beat John Smethurst 3/1; Nigel Roscoe halved Adam Whalley T; John Simms lost to Mark Horsley 2/1; B Lomax lost to Tony Maycroft 7/6.

Deane 4 Hindley Hall 3 Andy Runciman beat Nicky Hibbs 4/3; Steve Parry beat Phil Johnson 3/2; Phil Standring halved Chris McKenna ; Steve Greenall lost to Lee Davies 3/1; Steve Simpson lost to John Brennan 5/4; Steve Barrett beat Tony Cherrington 4/3; Craig Swinton beat Paul Walker 2 up; Neil Swinton lost to Neil Fairhurst 3/2.

Darren Durose halved David Jones ;

Martin Durhan lost to Matt Taylor 2/1; Neil Woolfrey beat Kevin Duffy 2 up; Warren Laverty beat Brett Dutton 6/4; C Ainsworth lost to Richard Powter 2 down; Gary Amos beat Kevin McKenna 6/5; Chris Carr lost to Dave Tasker 1 down; Stuart Mawson halved Doug Buttrill .

Paul Thompson beat Mark Rothwell 2 up; Ian Wilkinson lost to Adam Bullough 2 down; Bob Ashworth beat Peter Johnson 6/5; Gary Hulme lost to Johnathon Fullerton 6/5; Steve Gray lost to David Grime 1 down; Frank Green beat Tony Lomax 2/1; George Brown lost to Brian Dempsey 3/2; Dave Smith beat Steve McDermott 3/2.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.