Smooth as Silk Maddy Wins at The Tytherington

Heading North towards The Tytherington, which is situated close to the old silk town of Macclesfield, in Cheshire, our most northerly event, we were surprised at the lack of rain for a change!

Even though the course had been thoroughly drenched in previous days, the green keeping staff had done a sterling job to get the course and greens in full working order. A magnificent effort by all, thank you.

Although the field was relatively small, it was still packed with quality golfers and the scores would eventually bear that out despite the numbers being fairly pedestrian on the first day due in the main to the wet and windy conditions that prevailed.

Paul Maddy shared the lead on day one with a 2 under par 70 along with Stoke-on-Trent golfer, Jason Timmis, Mark Smith and recent winner, Craig Smith.

Defending Champion Dale Whitnell lay waiting to pounce from the shadows on 71 and he headed a group on level par 72 that included the former Coventry City footballer Liam Robinson, Australia's Shaun Malone and local hero Nick Holmes.

Although forecasted the rain failed to appear on the second day and it was fine, with sunny intervals and this provided the conditions for some hot scoring from two of the leading players.

It was Dale Whitnell who found his scoring boots early on and despite starting with a bogey, he then reeled off 4 birdies to reach the turn in 4 under for the tournament.

In the group behind Whitnell, Paul Maddy was indeed going mad on the front nine and 3 birdies and an Eagle on the ninth saw him turn in 31 strokes and 7 under for the tournament.

Meanwhile Whitnell's charge for the title stuttered with a bogey on the twelfth that dropped him to 3 under and 5 behind Maddy, who had birdied the tenth to go to 8 under.

It seemed all over with Maddy leading by 5 but Whitnell was having none of that and proceeded to birdie 3 of the last 6 holes to finish on 6 under par and ask Maddy the question!

And a valid question it was, because Maddy had shortly before bogied the fourteenth and now playing the last was only one shot in front.

As cool as a cucumber, however, Maddy birdied the last, for an 8 under par total to win by 2, and pick up the winners cheque for £1,750.

Whitnell, who had fought tooth and nail over the 2 days to defend his title, picked up £1,000 as a consolation.

A big thank you to the large number of spectators who turned out to witness the un-folding drama of the 2 days and we hope they enjoyed their experience.

The Tytherington and its members offered us a magnificent golf course and boundless hospitality for the players to enjoy and without doubt is worth a visit by golfers of all standards.

Next week we are at Studley Wood just north of Oxford, a course that offers a great golf course and superb hospitality.