BILL Fisher may have come up short this time, but an Alderley Edge clubmate didn't.

When Alderley Edge staged the country's first nine-hole championship last year, Edge captain Fisher, who recently won the England Captain of Captains title, became the first winner.

He returned to Hale Golf Club to defend his title and in a close finish only a point separated the top five players.

In a card play-off on 21 points, Nick Barrowclough (Alderley Edge) took top spot ahead of James Eaton (Hartford) to keep the title at Alderley Edge Golf Club.

Barrowclough was presented with his trophy by Cheshire President elect Andrew Henshall (Wilmslow Golf Club).

Alderley Edge’s men played their monthly medal and in division one Keith Doyle was the main man with 65 from Mike Easton, 66, and Gary Johnstone and Simon Edbury, both 67.

In division two Steve Bell was a clear winner with 64 ahead of Nigel Howells, 66, and Simon Barber, Mike Magee and John Newsham, all 68.

Edge’s ladies were also in medal mode with Marion Hall first past the post with 73 from Helen Williams and Gwyneth Holt, both 74 and Liz McGuire 75.

The tenth White Tee medal for Styal Seniors needed a cpo on 68 to see J Paul Jones into top spot from the consistent Harry Reid, two less than Steve Walker.

There was a terrific contest for the John Harrison Medal at Styal with Ryan Owen winning a cpo on 68 from Kevin Bocquet and Finn Manning, and just a shot off the pace were Ivan Bloor and Mark Ashton.

Enid Laverty was on fire in a ladies Stableford at Styal posting 38 points to finish well clear of Rita Barton 29 and Joan Andrews and Celia O’Donohue, both 28.

Cheshire welcomed Lancashire Boys to Congleton G.C. for the annual mixed age match (Under 16, Under 15 and Under 14) between the two Counties.

The undulating greens were playing at a very fast pace and presented a stiff test of these young golfer's putting skills.

The weather was hot and with hardly a breeze as the players set off for the morning 9-hole foursomes which were shared at three matches each.

The winners for Cheshire were Liam Gobin (Sandiway) and Sam Johnson (Astbury), Sam Hall (Styal) and Jack McCrindle (Prenton) and Niall Curwen (Bramall Park) and Ben Tomlinson (Styal).

Replying for Lancashire were Jack Bryan (Bolton Old Links) and Lucas Done (Heysham, Ben Meredith (Formby Hall) and Ethan Mawdsley (Houghwood) and Aiden Heath (Heysham) and Luis Duffy (Grange Park).

A closely fought series of afternoon singles matches was anticipated but Cheshire stormed into an early lead winning the first five matches through Liam Gobin, Sam Johnson, Nathan Newton (Upton-by-Chester) Liam Mann (Bramhall) and Sam Hall

Harry Redman (Lytham Green Drive) pulled a point back for Lancashire but the Cheshire momentum continued throughout the order winning a further four matches from Niall Curwen, Ben Tomlinson, Ben Currie (Withington) and Cameron Walker (Caldy) with Lancashire having the consolation of winning the final two games through Aiden Heath and Luis Duffy to give the home team a nine matches tot hree advantage and a final match score of 12 matches to 6.

This victory gave the County's young golfers a 'clean-sweep' in 2018, defeating all the neighbouring Counties in this mixed age format.