A MILLENNIUM push for golfing girl-power has yielded exceptional dividends for Malton and Norton Golf Club.

This column last week highlighted the plight of York GC, where girl membership of an otherwise thriving junior section comprised just two players.

But currently the lasses are on the up at Malton and Norton, where there are no less than 18 girls aged between ten and 17.

At the heart of the upswing is current lady captain Jean Mackenzie, who took up the game while teaching in Zambia, whom she revealed she once represented in an international match.

Two years ago she launched the first of several moves to promote girl membership at the club. A teacher at Bishop Wilton primary school, she used her contacts to leaflet all the local schools and arranged two 'taster' sessions.

Boosted by the support of the Malton and Norton ladies' section, club professional Steve Robinson, and backed by grant aid from various bodies including the Golf Foundation and the Awards for All scheme, Jean has now been able to attract a regular array of teenage female golfing potential.

"It has meant constantly chipping away, but we now have a good mix and a good age range," she enthused. "We've not got any stars just yet, but we're working at it."

To widen the coaching scope for the venture Jean took several Golfing Foundation junior ladies' courses, and her endeavours have found allies in Robinson and his assistant professional James Drinkall.

Jean added that there's also been help from Malton's star woman player, Emma Duggleby, the current Yorkshire champion and former England and Great Britain title-holder.

"Emma has been a great emissary for us and everyone at the club has given their backing to bringing in more girls to play," added the lady captain.

"Unfortunately, it's a different mindset with girls than boys of around that age. Girls tend to be a bit timid, but if we can get them to play early enough we believe we can keep them interested in the game."

STUART Gregory, playing off 11, had a superb 64 to win Fulford's Benson and Hedges Trophy given by B&H to mark the company's 18-year association with the Fulford club from 1971 to 1989.

He won by five shots in an event in which Ron Hourston holed in one at the tenth with an eight iron.

Matthew Kelly had the best gross round of 71, one-under par.

Dave Martin, meanwhile, won the Archie Sorrell Trophy with 39 stableford points, and in the ladies' invitation day Liz Jones shared the honours on 81 points with Chris Hyde (Allerthorpe), Dorothy Petch and her daughter, Kathryn Davidson.

Count-back determined the eventual winners of Kilnwick Percy GC's men's greensomes competition played off a three-eighths combined handicap.

Mark Gatenby and Peter Williamson won with a net 75 and a better back nine of 34 to pip Graham Martin and Philip Curtis. The runners-up spot was also sorted on count-back over the last six holes, to consign Chris and Tony Smith into third place.

Meanwhile, vice-captain Steve Johnson has been elected to take over the club captaincy in 2003. Long-standing member Tony Hutchinson, nominated by Norman Turton and Eric Sologub is the new vice-captain.

The club's Bank Holiday Texas scramble was won by Neil Atkinson, Gareth Pudsey, Rob Kettlestring and A Palfreman.

PLAYING off respective handicaps of 7, 7, 7 and 5 Trevor Boddison (Forest of Galtres), Mick Pickering (Easingwold), Mick Atkinson (Forest of Galtres) and Alex Preece (Heworth) totalled 96 points to win the Forest of Galtres Am-Am Invitation event by three points.

Preece also won the nearest the pin prize, while Heworth GC's Jim Batt struck a superb 274-yard shot for the longest drive award.

YORK Golf Club have improved their training facilities with the laying out of a short nine-hole course on their practice ground.

The mini-course will be used for coaching and playing fun competitions and will boost those youngsters who are just starting out on the game.

HILARY Smyth (Pannal) and Sue Mayman (Bedale) won the best gross prize with an 83 in the Yorkshire Veterans' Ladies Golf Association summer foursomes at Fulford.

Harrogate pair Kate Barnaby and Wendy Scaife had the top nett score of 72, two under par.

Updated: 11:17 Saturday, August 31, 2002