County of the Year 2026

Cheshire Girls Championship 2026 Prestbury provide a tough test for the cream of Cheshire Prestbury Golf Club are hosting the English Girls Championships in a couple of weeks and they showed very clearly the tough test their excellent course will provide to the players in the Cheshire Girls championships. Prestbury provided excellent hospitality, friendly support for the busy and efficient Cheshire organising team to make sure the competition flowed superbly throughout a busy day. Cheshire President Marjorie Griffiths said: “Prestbury was in excellent condition,but still a tough challenge. As always they are wonderful hosts and we do appreciate all the support that they so willingly give to Cheshire Golf. “Thank you to the officials and the parents who are always prepared to walk the course and act as spotters.” There were plenty of challenges on all of the holes and stray shots were severely punished but the players kept their nerve led by the new champion Jess Flynn (Bramhall Golf Club), who had led Cheshire Girls to a big win over Yorkshire Girls in the previous week. Jess posted a gross 87 to win the u16 Champions Trophy and also the County Champions Trophy presented by Cheshire President Marjorie Griffiths (Ringway GC). The u14 champion was Yasmine Chambers (Wallasey GC) with 89 gross and the Nett Champion was Ellie Cunningham (Lymm GC) with a three under par 71. Two’s prizes went to Esme Graham (Wallasey) on hole 10, Jess Flynn and Keira Saunders (Royal Liverpool GC), both on hole 17 and Olivia Smith (Stamford) on hole 7.

A very pleasant day for u14’s at Davenport Cheshire Boys u14’s put another golf course on their portfolio as they took on a Derbyshire and Cheshire League team at Davenport Golf Club. Team manager Graham McCormack said: “Due to the no-show of two Macclesfield players two of the D and C players each played against two of our players as this was the only way to ensure that all of our squad players. “We won 6-2 and most of our players to add Davenport GC to their portfolios. “My thanks are expressed to Davenport GC and Allan Burck for organising ad hosting the event and as always to my cohort Jim McBride for his usual great help on the day. The winners for Cheshire were Henry Quinn (Disley) 3/1, James Harrison (Astbury) 3/2, Cruz Norton (Northenden) 5/4, Casper Bernstein (Ringway) one up and Buster Airey (Heswall) 4/3 and there were halves from Charlie Thompson (Styal) and Cormac Narey (Crewe). Pic Cheshire team: Back LR Charlie Thompson, Cruz Norton, James Prest, Henry Quinn. Front LR: Buster Airey, Casper Bernstein, Cormac Narey, James Harrison Photo Geoff Garnett

Cheshire Girls won 6 - 2 against a strong Yorkshire team at Didsbury recently. Well done to the team manager Julia and the team and the many parents who supported and walked the course. Both teams enjoyed the Didsbury course which was in immaculate, interesting and testing condition thanks to the dedicated work of course manager Tom McKay and his team over the difficult early months of the year. All were given a warm welcome by Didsbury President Fred Finley and Cheshire President Marjorie Griffiths before battle commenced. Cheshire showed their intent and got off to a flying start as Jess Flynn two up, Emilia Gravett 5/4 and Girls Captain Naomi Willans two up gave them a commanding 3-0 lead. Yorkshire pulled a point back with a narrow one down defeat to Emily Macauley. But there was no stopping the Cheshire charge as Nancy Hodgson one up and Missy Green 7/6 took them to victory. Phoebe Henderson lost a close encounter by one hole before Anya Clayton completed an outstanding 6-2 win for Cheshire winning her game 6/5. Congratulations to all our Cheshire girls!

LR: Matt & Joe Dodd-Berry from Royal Liverpool, Oscar & Mo Craig from Sandiway. Cheshire Men's team play Durham away this Saturday at Brancepeth Castle and our team contains two pairs of brothers! In the early 1920s, Cheshire golf featured three notable Sidebottoms from Disley: Israel Sidebottom, T. N. “Norry” Sidebottom and J. H. Sidebottom. Notable results winning both the Cheshire Championship and Midlands Counties Championship in 1923, Cheshire Championship runner-up three times, the Hodgkinson Foundation Gold Medal in 1924 and represented the County on several occasions and Disley course record of 67 in 1913. Fast forward to modern times and in 2024 Matt Dodd-Berry qualified for The 152nd Open at Royal Troon as an amateur after shooting 69-69, six under, in Final Qualifying at West Lancashire. Joe finished T3 at Caldy on -3, qualifying for Open Final Qualifying. Sandiway has a notable modern brother story in Oscar and Murray “Mo” Craig. Oscar Craig, now one of Cheshire’s leading young amateurs, became the 100th Men’s County Champion at Delamere Forest in 2026, while younger brother Mo has also represented Sandiway and appeared in Cheshire boys’ competition. The brothers are also members of Tommy Fleetwood's family as stepfather and, memorably, caddying for Oscar on his Challenge Tour debut. This is the first time in history we have had two sets of brothers playing for Cheshire and we wish them all the very best of luck, it's looking like an exciting weekend ahead for all!

Cheshire were leading on the first day but despite best efforts came a very close second in the Northern Counties Boys Qulaifier today at Brancepeth Castle. Well done Cheshire boys, it was a close call!

Increasing women in golf presentation by England Golf to Club Secretaries! 2pm on 9th July at High Legh. For more information please contact secretary@cheshiregolf.org.uk