PETER Bostock described achieving a single-figure handicap for the first time aged 61 as eclipsing the delight of winning his second major at Crompton and Royton.
The self-employed joiner, who triumphed in Captain’s Day, declared: “It had always been my goal to get to single figures for the first time.
“It is a big achievement to finally get there, especially at my age.”
Peter, now playing off 9.4, went into Captain’s Day with an 11 handicap before shooting a terrific nett 64 in the opening round.
“I didn’t have a good front nine, but came back in one over gross, something I have never done before,” he said.
Peter added he started the second round well with three birdies on the front nine before falling apart on the back nine.
He said: “My playing partners were telling me to hold it together as they thought 134 would win it.
“I was not convinced it would not be good enough due to the conditions. I also won President’s Prize in 2013 with 128.”
Peter has only been playing golf seriously for about 15 years when he became a member at Crompton and Royton.
Before that he was into amateur rugby league as a player and coach locally, primarily for Ferranti, and he also scouted for Bradford Bulls.
Peter’s 64 and 70 for 134 gave him a slender one-shot margin of victory over his two nearest challenges.
Runner-up was John Kerrigan (67 and 68 off 21) on the card from Mark Davis (64 and 71 off 12).
The first-day prize went to Glyn Parry (80-14-66) on the card from Jonathan Brock (81-15-66).
The second-day honours were claimed by Richard Ollerton (79-16-63) from Ben Gledhill (72-8-64).
Ian Harrop also claimed a major with his victory in the Hall Cup.
It was the 51-year-old fork lift instructor’s first major at the High Barn club, though he had won one – the Hillier Cup – when a member at Blackley eight years ago.
Ian shot a five-under-par nett 65 as he made the most of an early tee off as later in the day it became increasingly winds.
He was one-under-par gross for the first eight holes and then had a triple-bogey seven at the ninth.
And on the back nine, when the wind started to gust before, he had six pars and three bogeys.
Ian said: “I had an early tee time as I was going on holiday and had the best of the conditions.
“I thought I may have a chance because of the wind but it wasn’t until later in the day after I had arrived in Scotland that I received a call to say I had won.”
After his victory, Ian’s handicap has been reduced to 9.8, his lowest has been 7.8.
Ian had also been a member of the Crompton and Royton ‘B’ team that has reached the Oldham and District League Cup final when they will play Oldham.
His winning score of 76-11-65 was one shot clear of Andrew Hilldrup (75-9-66).
Third was Tim O’Leary (78-11-67) and other leading scores went to Carl Ringland (83-15-68) and Simon Higgins (81-12-69).
The best gross score was 72 from Jack Barnes.
A three division Stableford saw Steve Davis win the top flight with 45 points from second-placed Jason Walton with 40.
James Leonard won division two with 40 points on the card from Richard Ollerton while in division three Jeff Gates (41) and Graham Schofield (39) were the one-two.
Another three division Stableford saw Scott O’Leary take top spot in division one with 41 points from Steve Davis.
Chris Gleave (40) and Vic Smith (39) were the leading players in division two while in division three Jonathan Harrison (43) and Paul Hammond (42) were the top two.
Winners of a Texas scramble were James Booth, Shaun Tuohy, Jordan Abbott and Stuart Hopkinson with 53.2.
Runners-up were Paul Finigan, Andy Clarke, Andy Frizzell and John Norbury with 55.4 while third place went to Paul Harrison, Chris Roberts, Chris Gleave and Trevor Doney (56.9).