Heard wins Wirral Golf Classic

Rotheram golfer Alan Heard won the Wirral Golf Classic by three points from Crewe's Steve Hulse

The Wirral Golf Classic was staged at the start of October, with Rotherham golfer Alan Heard scoring 142 points over four rounds to take the title.

The third playing of the event took place over the links at Caldy, Heswall, Royal Liverpool and Wallasey, and attracted golfers from Great Britain and Ireland and Germany, Holland and South Africa.

It was Englishman Heard who prevailed, however, with an average of 35.5 points a round on some on the North's toughest courses.

The Sitwell Park golfer - who edged out Crewe's Steve Hulse by three points - took home a Titleist Tour Pro bag.

Martyn Perfect, of Moor Hall, finished in third, while the women's competition was won by Femke Croes, from Duinzicht in Holland, who recorded a four-round total of 141 points.

The weather was perfect over the four-day tournament, which was supported by local bars and restaurants Frankies, the Portrait House, the Wro and Sheldrakes, which served on-course refreshments to competitors.

The Thornton Hall Hotel also hosted a welcome drinks reception for all competitors at the start of the week.

Thanks also go to Wirral Council, National Club Golfer and Titleist, further supporters of the event.

Results: Men:

1st - Alan Heard, Sitwell Park, 142pts; 2nd - Steve Hulse, Crewe, 139 pts; 3rd - Martyn Parfect, Moor Hall, 139 pts; 4th - Nic Evans, Paarl Valley, 138 pts; 5th - Ted Grantham, Driffield, 137 pts

Women:

1st Femke Croes - 141 pts; 2nd - Sylvia Kempsell, Leatherhead, 110 pts; 3rd - Oradee Jantaphan- Hammond, Whiteleaf, 109 pts.

Team:

1st - The Mid-Dayers, 518pts - Chris Clarkson & Chris Dawson, Brough, and Andy Lenton & Chris Pennington, Breadsall Priory

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x