Carroll on song to take victory in Crosby Plate

Aug 7 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

JOHN CARROLL birdied the final hole at windswept West Lancs to clinch the Crosby Plate by a shot from Lancashire team-mate Tommy Fleetwood.

It was the 23-year-old Huyton and Prescot player’s second victory of the season in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit following his success in the Henriques Trophy at Hillside in May. The painter and decorator, the 2006 county champion, led by four strokes after a first round 73 and followed up with 77 as conditions worsened.

England boys’ player Fleetwood, from Formby Hall, followed up his opening 79 with a best-of-the-day level par 72.

Meanwhile, Longridge’s Mark Young finished eighth to increase his merit lead to 310 points over Carroll.

DETAILS: 150 John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) 73,77; 151 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 79,72; 154 Jon Hurst (Shaw Hill) 78,76; 155 Steve McGlynn (Blackburn) 78,77, 157 Richie Blundell (Hillside) 80,77, Liam Hunt (Mere) 77,80; 158 Paul McFerran (Childwall) 81,77; 160 Mark Young (Longridge) 81,79; 162 Carl Thompson (Manchester) 85,77, Andy Johnson (Woolton) 82,80; 163 Mark Denton (Huyton & Prescot) 85,78, Ken Hudson (Hart Common) 84,79.

MERIT LEADERS: 670pts Mark Young (Longridge); 360 John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot); 300 Willie Bowe (Workington); 280 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall); 250 Alex Hogben (Ringway); 230 Mark Rabone (S&A); 225 Steve Walmsley (Birchwood); 200 Carl Thompson (Manchester), 200 Steven Hindle (Ellesmere); 190 Curtis Dean (Fleetwood); 170 Sean Nicholls (Shaw Hill); 160 Gareth Clark (Manchester).

ALEX Hogben became the fifth first time winner in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit this season with a one-shot victory in the Wilmslow Crow.

The 19-year-old Ringway member, on holiday from studying in the United States, strung together a pair of 70s, four-under-par overall, as Longridge hot-shot Mark Young continued his impressive run by finishing second.

Hogben, off plus two, was also runner-up in the Hulbert Trophy at Manchester Hopwood last month and denied Young his second successive victory with birdies on two of the last three holes.

DETAILS: 140 Alex Hogben (Ringway) 70,70; 141 Mark Young (Longridge) 71,70; 143 Craig Morrow (Ulverston) 71,72, James Murphy (Shrigley Hall) 70,73, Paul McFerran (Childwall) 70,73, David Dixon (Prestbury) 70,73; 145 David Peel (Stockport) 70,75; 146 Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park) 75,71. Craig Lewis (Prenton) 69,77; 148 James Guy (Bromborough) 77,71; 149 Paul Bishop (Shrigley Hall) 75,74, Jon McMullen (Lee Park) 73,76.

MARK Young enhanced his claims to a Lancashire call-up with a three-shot victory in the Royton Sword.

The 26-year-old Clitheroe builder, who also won the Penwortham Rose Bowl, said: “I’ve never been approached by the county but I’m hoping they’ll start to take more notice of me.”

Young, who plays off plus one and has won his club championship at Longridge three years in a row, had never seen the Crompton and Royton course until the first round.

DETAILS: 139 Mark Young (Longridge) 75,64; 142 Gareth Clark (Manchester) 74,68, Roger Smithies (Manchester) 73,69; 144 Ben Crowther (Dewsbury) 73,71, Lee Newsome (Oldham) 72,72, Chris Rabbich (Crompton & Royton) 72,72.; 144 Andrew Terry (Manchester) 73,74, Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall) 71,76; 148 Lee Rowbottom (Werneth) 79,69, Richard Yates (Manchester) 78,70, Gary Melling (Crompton & Royton) 77,71, John Whalley (Haydock Park) 76,72.