A NEW champion was crowned after a close final in this year's Bury & District Golf Championships, held at Pike Fold Golf Club.

The weather was kind, consequently the scores being shot were very low in the 36 holes qualifying, with the course record being broken by three different players, Ashley Siddle (Rossendale), Mark Whittaker (Rossendale) and Neil Woolfrey (Breightmet).

They all beat the old mark by one shot, carding 68s on the Par 72 course.

However, the top qualifier was 21-year-old County player, Sean Doherty of Bury, who carded a 71 and 69 for a 140 total (4 under par).

The seeded qualifiers were:

1 S. Doherty (Bury) 71 + 69 = 140

2 A. Siddle (Rossendale) 68 + 74 = 142

3 M. Whittaker (Rossdale) 68 + 75 = 143

4 C. Doherty (Bury) 72 + 73 = 145

5 N. Woolfrey (Breightmet) 78 + 68 = 146

6 D. Thornton (Lowes Pk) 75 + 71 = 146

7 P. Bennett (Bury) 74 + 72 = 146

8 M. Thornton (Lowes Pk) 77 + 71 = 148

Two pairs of brothers reaching the knockout stages was probably a record in its own right. In the first quarter final Mark Whittaker defeated Daniel Thornton 2&1; Neil Woolfrey beat Ciaren Doherty 2&1; Sean Doherty knocked out Matthew Thornton 7&6; and Paul Bennett pipped Ashley Siddle 21st hole (third sudden death hole)

Unfortunately Neil suffered a rib injury and had to concede his semi-final to Sean; in the other match, Mark Whittaker defeated Paul Bennett in a very close contest, on the last hole, one up.

These results threw up a mouthwatering final between Mark (Rossendale) and Sean (Bury) and what a tremendous match it was.

Both players were on the top of their game, Sean being five under par and only one up playing the 18th, where Mark made birdie to take the match into sudden death.

Both having made par at the first extra hole, Sean delighted the large crowd by sinking a putt for yet another birdie on the second extra hole to win the Championship for the first time.