Cheshire’s Ray Hughes has won the 2010 matchplay

Jun 2 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

RAY Hughes, former captain of Cheshire, has won the 2010 Cheshire Matchplay Championship.

His first win in the championship, at Bromborough, is the biggest success , a victory that marks the new summit of his long and distinguished amateur career spanning 30 years and a hard-won comeback from ill-health.

There are others reasons why he has special cause for celebration. He won against the field of top amateurs, the competition from the big-hitting young ones. He is passionate about Cheshire, devoted to the county cause which makes him so thrilled to win the big title.

He began playing as a boy at Brackenwood, first represented his county as a junior in 1980 and graduates through the county ranks. His appearances for his county at all levels is now approaching 150.

He is a past winner of the Caldy Quart at his home club, the Frank Stableford at Wallasey, the Cheshire Inter-Club County Foursomes and the individual award in the English Golf Union County Team Championship.

“But this tops everything, playing as an individual,” he says. “Particularly with what has happened, the operations and so on.”

The other reason for a special sense of satisfaction is that he is now in his mid-40s. “I was not surprised to win. But I first entered this championship about 30 years ago. And I did think I was reaching n the last stages of when I would be able to win.