Golf: John Carroll calls the tune to strike a winning note

Jun 24 2008 by David Birtill, Liverpool Daily Post

JOHN Carroll was on song for the second time this season in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit, racking up an impressive 80 points to win the Frank Stableford Open at Wallasey.

The 2006 Lancashire County champion from Huyton and Prescot, who also won the Southport and Ainsdale Bowl, fired 40 points in each round, which equated to eight-under-par in total.

It is the highest points total returned in the event since it first took place in 1960.

An eagle and three birdies on the outward stretch helped to give him a head start at the halfway stage.

And Carroll, whose talents have so far failed to attract the attention of the England selectors, rolled in another six birdies in the afternoon to finish five points clear of Lancaster’s Dan Sefton and Cheshire county player Ian Winstanley, the 2005 merit winner from Formby.

DETAILS: 80pts John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) 40,40; 75 Dan Sefton (Lancaster) 37,38, Ian Winstanley (Formby) 37,38; 74 Mark Young (Longridge) 37,37, Kevin Kean (Ashton-on-Mersey) 38,36; 73 Rob Hearty (Bromborough) 36, 37, Paul McFerran (Childwall) 37,36; 71 Ian Kearney (West Lancs) 35,36, David Hird (Leasowe) 38,33; 70 Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 33,37; 69 Gareth Hastie (Dunscar) 34,35, Alan Harrison (S&A) 35,34. Other results: Best scratch, 1st 18 holes: Kevin Kean (Ashton-on-Mersey) 38pts. Best scratch, 2nd 18 holes: Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 37. Best nett, 36 holes: Rob Hearty (Bromborough) 73.

SAM Stuart won his second Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit fixture in a row – and he had to thank his mum Denise for his three shot victory in the Hulbert Trophy at Manchester.

The 20-year-old England player persuaded her to drive him home from Scotland after he had missed the cut in the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Old Course.

“She did not fancy such a long journey because it was getting late but she eventually agreed after I told her I’d managed to get into the Manchester event,” said the St Annes Old Links and Chorley player.

I went to bed at 1.30am and then I had to play two rounds the same day.

“I scored well considering but I began to tire and made a few mistakes.”

Stuart, who won the Penwortham Rose Bowl the previous week, still contrived to string together two 69s for a six-under-par aggregate at the tough Hopwood Cottage course.

DETAILS: 138 Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links) 69,69; 141 Andrew Davies (Manchester) 72,69, David Holt (Shaw Hill) 71,70; 143 Carl Thompson (Manchester) 72,71, Gareth Clark (Manchester) 71,72; 144 Andrew Terry (Manchester) 76,68, Steve McGlynn (Blackburn) 73,71, Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park) 71,73, Stephen Hindle (Ellesmere) 70,74; 145 Tom Stuart (Chorley) 76,69; 146 Jake Murphy (Manchester) 73,73, Kristian Taylor (Formby) 71,75.

STEVE McGlynn moved into fifth place in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit courtesy of his victory in the Trafalgar Trophy at Nelson.

The Lancashire player, a plus three handicapper and a Blackburn member, strung together rounds of 69 and 66, five-under-par in total.

He won by two strokes from fast-improving Formby youngster Kristian Taylor, who took over sixth spot in the table after finishing runner-up.

McGlynn birdied three out of four holes from the 12th in the afternoon to pull away from the chasing pack.

Mark Young finished third, four off the pace, and is now in second place in his merit defence, 15 points adrift of Southport and Ainsdale’s James Robinson.

DETAILS: 135 Steve McGlynn (Blackburn) 69,66; 138 Kristian Taylor (Formby) 70,68; 139 Mark Young (Longridge) 70,69, Nick Uttley (Nelson) 69,70; 140 Simon Hodgkinson (Nelson) 72,68, Paul Thomason (Nelson) 71,69; 141 Mark Ashworth (Clitheroe) 68,73; 143 Ian Hardman (Accrington) 71,72; 144 Daniel Nutter (Nelson) 75,69, Carl Thompson (Manchester) 73,71, Leigh Smart (Blundells Hill) 70,74; 145 Steve Duerden (Nelson) 73,72.

MERIT LEADERS: 400pts James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale); 385 Mark Young (Longridge); 330 Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links); 300 John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot); 265 Steve McGlynn (Blackburn); 155 Kristian Taylor (Formby); 150 Garry Lacy (Ashton-in-Makerfield); 135 Carl Thompson (Manchester); 125 Stephen Hindle (Ellesmere), Kevin Kean (Ashton-on-Mersey); 110 Gareth Clark (Manchester); 100 Steve Hudson (Blundells Hill); Stephen Jopson (Carlisle); Dan Sefton (Lancaster), Andrew Davies (Manchester).