Cryer is Cockroft Champion

Woodsome Hall's Adam Cryer produced two sterling rounds of golf to hold off a host of formidable names to land the HHDUGC's premier strokeplay event, the PS Cockroft Trophy.

Nicely placed after a one-under par round of 70 in the morning, at a relatively benign Crosland Heath golf course, Cryer (pictured with Graham Sykes, President of Crosland Heath, and Geoff Ralph, President of the Halifax Huddersfield District Union of Golf Clubs) knew that he would have to improve in the afternoon if he was to lift the coveted silver trophy. Because, despite his sub-par round, there were several familiar names ahead or equal with him at the halfway stage.

Bradley Hall's Andrew Whitworth, a former winner, and last years matchplay champion, Aaron Schnacke (Huddersfield GC) lead the way with rounds of 68 whilst Iain Powell (Hebden Bridge GC) and Jamie Bower (Meltham GC) were poised to strike after scores of 69. Crow Nest Park's Ben Adamson matched Cryer's 70 as did Meltham's Roger Hunt.

However, the left-handed Cryer carded a 68 in the afternoon and as other players faded it soon became apparent that he would be crowned the champion with his impressive 138 tally. In the end it was good enough to win by three strokes from Powell who edged new North of England Youth Under 18 winner Bower out on a card count-back.

It was a double success for Cryer as he also won the Jubilee Trophy for the best score by a junior. Meanwhile Schnacke, who drifted to a 79 in the afternoon, had the consolation of winning the best morning round and Fixby's Andrew Wilford took the best afternoon score with a 71.

The leading 32 players qualified for the matchplay stage of the competition with the cut coming at 156.

Leading Scores:
Adam Cryer, 2, Woodsome Hall = 138, 70, 68
Iain Powell, 0, Hebden Bridge = 141, 69, 72
Jamie Bower, -1, Meltham = 141, 69, 72
Richard Broadley, -2, Huddersfield = 142, 71, 71
Ben Adamson, 1, Crow Nest Park = 142, 70, 72
Andrew Whitworth, -1, Halifax Bradley Hall = 142, 68, 74
Andy Wilford, 2, Huddersfield = 145, 74, 71
Tom Calvert, 3, Willow Valley = 146, 74, 72
David Stafford, 1, West End (Halifax) = 146, 73, 73
Roger Hunt 2, Meltham = 146, 70, 76