CHEEKY winner Eddie Haigh praised conditions at the Griffin – he’s the greenkeeper!

Known as ‘The Bear,’ Haigh booked his place in the Champion of Champions competition with a terrific win in the latest Sixteen.

He had to beat county man Paul Sigsworth in the final of the event, which was sponsored by Robert Taylor School of Motoring.

There was nothing to choose between the finalists in the early stages and they were level at 10 across.

Haigh then never got behind, even though Sigsworth upped the ante when reducing the deficit to 16-14.

The Bear then proved he knows his green extremely well, playing really close to get the five needed for a welcome and deserved win.

His tongue-in-cheek comments about the green came at the presentation – although it was in excellent condition.

Results: First round – J Ineson 21 P Hopkinson 17, P Conneely 10 F Greenwood 21, D Walkden 10 P Sigsworth 21, D Scott 21 T Wilson 16, G Sykes 10 D Tattersley 21, P Ramsden 9 M Richardson 21, G Fellows 21 C Allen 16, S Stoney 17 E Haigh 21. Quarter finals – Ineson 21 Greenwood 14, Sigsworth 21 Scott 8, Tattersley 20 Richardson 21, Fellows 14 Haigh 21. Semi-finals – Ineson 9 Sigsworth 21, Richardson 17 Haigh 21. Final – Sigsworth 14 Haigh 21.

Saturday’s 16 (11.00) is sponsored by Lockwood and Salford Conservative Club.

Draw (with odds in brackets): R Taylor (33) v D Rae (25), J Abbott (16) v S Parkin (66), R Mozley (6) v JD Wright (10), A Wadsworth (20) v A Crowther (20), B Tinker (66) v R Whitwam (20), R Sutton (10) v S Rigby (50), P Kain (7) v M Bramall (7), D Fisher (6) v C Gant (8).

It’s the first qualifying round for the Bernard Sigsworth Memorial competition on Sunday (10.00).

Preliminary round – S Pollard (66) v D Tattersley (50), R Taylor (100) v R Brook (12), C Gant (14) v M Hinchliffe (50), B Gibson (66) v T Wilson (40), C Allen (66) v R Whitwam (33), R Wormald (16) v D Fisher (16), P Sigsworth (3) v A Hirst (100), M Richardson (50) v S Rigby (100), D Scott (25) v JD Wright (66).

First round – T Holmes (50) v S Hirst (5), P Kain (16) v J Ineson (66), M Wood (33) v A Daykin (9/2), G Fellows (66) v Qualifier.

The second qualifying round is on Sunday, February 28 (10.00).

Preliminary round – P Hopkinson (66) v D Reeves (14), J Ollerenshaw (50) v E Haigh (14), J Hatzer (66) v R Crowther (12), P Ingleby (20) v D Walkden (16), F Greenwood (16) v B Tinker (100), A Crowther (50) v P Read (50), G Sykes (100) v J Abbott (66), P Ramsden (60) v D Beeby (20), B Morley (33) v R Sutton (33), J Dyson (8) v W Dews (40).

First round – M Bramall (20) v S Fisher (8), A Wadsworth (66) v R Mozley (33), S Parkin (100) v D Rae (40).