Golf: Jonathan Little a threat to title repeat

May 20 2008 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

IAIN DAVIE begins his quest to win the Cheshire Matchplay Championship for the second time in three years against one of the county’s young up and coming players.

The 2006 winner from Hazel Grove will meet Heswall’s Jonathan Little in the first round of this year’s championship at Bramall Park.

Last year’s winner Jamie Howarth has now turned professional, so a number of former champions will be hoping to add to their tally.

Neil Andrew (2002 winner), David Peel (2001) and Barry Barker (2000) are all in the first round draw.

Former Cheshire junior captain Josh Sims meets Simon Bolam of Presbury while his Cheshire county colleague Rob Hearty (Bromborough) will take on Royal Liverpool’s Martin Thomas. Another county player, Craig Lewis of Prenton, faces Andrew Lanman (Didsbury) while former captain and long-serving county player Ray Hughes (Caldy) will take on James West (Altrincham).

Former Cheshire Boys champion Adam Wills (Sandiway) plays Paul Wilson (Northenden).

The championships run from Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25.

FIRST ROUND DRAW: Iain Davie (Hazel Grove) v Jonathan Little (Heswall); Tom Foden (Chester) v Liam McHugh (Warrington); Neil McQueen (Mellor & Townscliffe) v Neal Jones (Vicars Cross); Stephen Hargreaves (Bidston) v Simon Conway (Hazel Grove); Rob Hearty (Bromborough) v Martin Thomas (RLGC); Barney Ross (Didsbury) v Tom Greenfield (RLGC); Paul Knight (Eastham Lodge) v Martin Leese (Astbury); Barry Barker (Reddish Vale) v Jack Bingham (Disley); David Peel (Stockport) v Michael Bedford (Prestbury); Josh Sims (Caldy) v Simon Bolam (Prestbury); Matt Dixon (Prestbury) v Tom Way-Rider (Carden Park); Stephen Barlow (Ashton-under-Lyne) v Richard Mallard (Chorlton cum Hardy); Gary Hill (Reddish Vale) v George Seed (Bramall Park); Olly Smith (Ashton on Mersey) v Oliver Carr (Heswall); Jeff Brothwell (Didsbury) v Charles Bradley (Bramhall) w/o; Edward Parker (Crewe) v Oliver Pantoja (Ashton on Mersey); Andrew Hardie (Wychwood Park) v David Benson (Bramall Park); Graham Roberts (Eaton) v Richard Vale (Wychwood Park); Henry Featherstone (Ringway) bye; Craig Lewis (Prenton) v Andrew Lanman (Didsbury); Neil Andrew (Ringway) v Andrew Clarke (Bramall Park); Jonathon Davies (Sale) v Alex Pritchard (Pryors Hayes); James O'Sullivan (Birchwood) v Sammy Jaafari (Ringway); Alex Hogben (Ringway) v Gareth Bradley (Bramhall); Ray Hughes (Caldy) v James West (Altrincham); Matthew Gillibrand (Tytherington) v Christopher Ashcroft (Prenton); Peter Nicholson (Vicars Cross) v Mark Geddes (Prenton); Kevin Kean (Ashton on Mersey) v Andrew Mansfield (Crewe); David Hird (Leasowe) v Dominic Barnes (Caldy); Dan Osbaldston (Prestbury v Christopher Swallow (Stockport); Ian Self (Didsbury) v Tony Osborne (Warrington); Adam Wills (Sandiway) v Paul Wilson (Northenden)