LIGHTNING held up play for more than an hour and reduced the Grange Park Rosebowl to a 27-hole competition.

Bbut it couldn't stop Gary Boardman from striking twice for victory last Sunday.

After a sun-soaked morning round, play continued despite darkening skies and rumbles of thunder. But on seeing the first flashes of mid-afternoon lightning the organising committee immediately sounded the klaxon to suspend play for safety reasons for the 60 strong field.

Players, members and spectators crowded into the clubhouse as conditions continued to worsen but with a six o'clock deadline looming for abandonment the skies brightened and it was announced that the competition would go ahead on a 27 holes basis. Had it been awarded for the morning round Gary Boardman, from Castle Hawk GC, would have won with a gross 72 on a card play-off from Steve Hamer of North Manchester. As it was he needed to go out again and complete an extra nine holes in one under par to snatch victory from Sale's Mark Jones, who had already completed a 27 hole total of 108 (73 and 35) before play was suspended.

Steve Hamer, faced with a similar challenge, never really got going but Boardman chipped up close on a wet second green to secure a par four and then made all important birdie three at the third. A string of pars on the remaining holes secured the win. Says Lancashire County player

Grange Park Captain Geoff Makin also paid tribute to fellow council member John Mather and his special events committee who secured sponsorship from members and local businesses to enable the event to continue following the decision by Pilkington plc to withdraw supportl. As such, the first Grange Park Rosebowl, which was provided by the club's ex-captains, was handed over by senior past captain Arthur Cowper.

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