WHEELCHAIR golfer Alan Campbell (pictured) is the national champion.

On a cold and wet day in Scunthorpe he won the title at the Normanby course by two strokes.

Alan ended last season - his first on the tour - as the country's third ranked player after winning three tournaments, being placed second in another and third in the national championships.

Despite his new top title, that third place still ranks with Alan as his best performance.

But now he has set himself a new goal - to lower his 45-handicap to 36.

"That will allow me to play in European events," said Alan, of Manchester Road, Leigh.

A player at Bolton's Regent Park course, he is forever grateful to the local authorities for allowing handigolfers to play on the course. "The Handigolf Foundation has a constant fight to brake down the barriers and prejudices some golf clubs have," he said.

Alan's interest in the sport was rekindled around 18 months ago with a chance meeting at Leigh's Asda Superstore with Atherton player Richard Reading.

"Richard is a leading member of the Handigolf Foundation, a charitable trust set up in 1988," explained Alan. "They stage around a dozen tournaments every year, involving both disabled and able-bodied golfers."

Full information on the Foundation from Brian Alden on 01487 824257.

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