BILL Fisher will be in buoyant mood to defend his Cheshire Nine-Hole County Championship title, after securing more silverware success this week.

Fisher was crowned England’s champion golf captain on Tuesday, scoring 39 stableford points at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire, to claim the trophy.

“I’m delighted. It’s a huge achievement in a very competitive field,” he said.

The final was played as part of England Golf Week, a five-day festival of handicap golf in individual and team categories, with Fisher’s closest rivals Ian Gwinnell (Brocton Hall, Staffordshire), George Grant (Leaside, Middlesex) and Ken Sargent (Haydock Park, Lancashire), all scoring 37pts – 2pts behind the winner.

The players all qualified through a series of tournaments held for members of the England Golf Captains’ programme, which is open to county, club and lady captains as well as vice captains and past captains.

Fisher was the 2017 captain at Alderley Edge Golf Club, where he has been a member for 32 years and where he enjoys competitive golf.

“At our club the golf is competitive, everyone is trying to win, but not at any cost,” he said.

Last year he was the first winner of the inaugural Cheshire Nine-Hole County Championship, which was held at Alderley Edge, and he’s looking forward to defending that title next week.

He took great pleasure in his year as captain, remarking “The people made it fantastic.”

He is also enthusiastic about his membership of the captains’ programme.

“It’s about meeting people who have been through a shared experience,” he said.

Nathan Okell