Matchplay Championship in Egypt won by Cheshire golfers

Cheshire cleaned up at the grand final of the Sky Sports-televised Matchplay Championship, in Egypt, as the county supplied both pairs of champions.

Vale Royal Abbey Golf Club’s Gordon Livingston and Ian Brandon emerged as the men’s champions by a nine-point margin after fighting off the challenge of seven other pairings during the three-day event.

“To win is incredible and it’s not really sunk in yet,” reflected Livingstone. “It's been a fantastic week and winning the competition is the icing on the cake.”

Lesley Mifsud and Steve Aylott, from Carden Park, took home the mixed pair title – by just three points from their nearest challenger at the Marriott Taba Heights Beach Resort.

“We've had a wonderful time and have really enjoyed playing the course,” Misfud added. “It’s 7,100 yards long and is challenging for any level of player. This is now becoming one of the most popular competitions around - meeting great people, playing fantastic courses, and ending at one of the best golfing resorts in the world, all for £20.”

In total 16 teams from across the UK & Ireland – eight men’s and eight mixed pairs – qualified for the week-long expenses paid trip to play at Taba Heights, nestling on the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea coast.

Golfers are now able to enter next year’s event – which will be sponsored by Golf Monthly, Rewards4Golf.com and Direct Golf UK and promoted in association with The Daily Telegraph – and details are available on matchplaychampionship.co.uk.

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