Power and glory for big-shot Hollingworth

BIG-HITTING Mike Hollingworth staged a show of power to muscle his way to victory in the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore after a three-way play-off.

But the 38-year-old Denton professional, who regularly launches 300-yard plus drives, admitted the course with its generously wide fairways and forgiving rough suited his game to a “tee.”

“There was no pressure because I could just give the ball a rip, go and find it and carry on,” he said after beating Heysham’s Joe Senior with a tap-in birdie at the third extra hole.

Earlier Steve Parry, winner of last month’s Pokerstars Manx Classic, fell at the first hurdle when he took three attempts to escape a bunker some 60 yards from the green.

The trio were deadlocked after normal time on seven-under-par over two rounds, both Hollingworth and Senior shaving the hole for outright victory on the 18th.

But for much of the time Luton-based Paul Simpson, joint overnight leader with Senior and playing on a sponsor’s invitation, was in the driving seat until he bogeyed the last three holes for a 71 to pull up a shot short alongside Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady who posted 70.

Parry, who runs a golf school at Westhoughton club Hart Common, filed a best of the day 65 and was leader in the clubhouse until Hollingworth came in with a 68 and Senior, professional at Heysham, followed with 70.

Hollingworth won the title nine years ago when it was a county event but upgraded this season into a full North Region Order of Merit tournament.
He revealed: “I’ve no plans to increase my playing schedule because I’m a family man and I’ve a busy club to run. The Denton members are incredibly supportive and they’re my priority.

“I know I’ve beaten some of the best players in the region but I’m nowhere near good enough to compete regularly.”

He described his par on the short 17th as crucial, having extricated the ball from a tough lie in the rough.

“That was a bonus but my short game was key to my success,” he added.

LEADING SCORES (Par=71): 135 Steve Parry (NW Golf Academy) 70 65, Mike Hollingworth (Denton) 67 68, Joe Senior (Heysham) 65 70 Hollingworth won at 3rd extra hole; 136 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) 69 67, Paul Simpson (Luton Hoo) 65 71; 137 David Wilcock (Gathurst) 68 69, David Smith (Swinton Park) 66 71; 138 Jon Cheetham (Gatley) 69 69, Mark Sheppard (Darland) 69 69, John Fisher (Huyton & Prescot) 67 71; 139 David Green (Dukinfield) 70 69, Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) 70 69, Matthew Ellis (Romiley) 70 69, Paul Eales (Garstang) 70 69Mike Nesbit (Westerhope) 67 72.