Golf: Sam Stuart steps up Merit bid

Jun 17 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

SAM Stuart timed his victory to perfection in the Penwortham Rose Bowl.

“I’ve made a slow start to the season so to get a first win under my belt is all the incentive I need,” he said.

The 20-year-old England A Squad player from Chorley moved into third place in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit, in which he finished runner-up in 2006.

In wet conditions Stuart, who plays off plus three, opened with a 67 thanks to birdies at the first two holes, and closed with 70, one-under-par in total, to prevail by a stroke from Carlisle’s Stephen Jobson.

DETAILS: 137 Sam Stuart (Chorley) 67,70; 138 Stephen Jopson (Carlisle) 65,73; 140 Steve McGlynn (Blackburn) 69,71, Andy Heesom (Clitheroe) 66,74; 141 Ryan O’Neill (Haigh Hall) 74,67; 142 Carl Thompson (Manchester) 73,69, Paul McFerran (Childwall) 72,70; 144 Andrew Palmer (Chorley) 74,70, James Oliphant (Grange-over-Sands) 74,70; 145 Garry Lacy (Ashton-in-Makerfield) 73,72, David Ware (Penrith) 72,73; 146 Dave Simpson (Penrith) 77,69.

MERIT LEADERS: 400pts James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale); 250 Mark Young (Longridge); 180 Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links); 150 John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot), Garry Lacy (Ashton-in-Makerfield); 100 Steve Hindle (Ellesmere), Steve Hudson (Blundells Hill); Stephen Jopson (Carlisle); 85 Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall); 75 Willie Bowe (Workington), Michael Hunt (Pleasington), Kevin Kean (Ashton-on-Mersey); Paul Lowey (Douglas), C Beavers (St Annes Old Links), Steve McGlynn (Blackburn).