GIVING UP cricket should have increased Mark Aspin’s golfing time - but he says it hasn’t quite worked out like that!

The Church stalwart retired from cricket a couple of years ago but the six handicapper says he hasn’t dedicated his new found spare time to golf.

Instead the Great Harwood golfer has been taking cricket coaching examinations, he coaches around the North West and has recently been appointed coach at Ribblesdale Cricket League side Salesbury. And he also fits in time to watch his old side in action in the Lancashire League.

Still, his golf hasn’t suffered and Mark has reached the last 32 of the Observer Golf Shield for the second time - although he is not quite sure how.

"I have scraped through my two rounds," admitted Mark. "On one I won on the 18th and on the other I won on the 19th. I haven’t been playing to my best and I don’t really know how I have managed to get through."

He admitted that he enjoys the Observer golf competition: "You always enter this competition wanting to try out other golf courses and I got Rossendale in my first round so it worked out well.

"In the last round I was at home and I am at Accrington for the fourth round.

"As it gets nearer the final, though, you then want a few home rounds."

Mark has been a member at Great Harwood GC for around 20 years and there is only him and Peter Kirkland flying the flag for the club in the last 32.

"That puts the pressure on!" he said. "Peter is a good player - he plays off three.

"I suppose playing cricket has given me a competitive spirit but I usually get knocked out in the first round of this competition so I am just pleased to be still in the draw.

"Somehow I have got through and now I just have to try and keep it going."

The fourth round is to be played by Sunday 13 July with the last 16 draw made at Rossendale on Monday 14 July. All results MUST be in the Observer office by Monday 14 July by 10am.

FOURTH ROUND DRAW

P Swan (Grn. Haw) v N. Grimshaw (Rish)

A. Yeates (Acc) v A. Guest (Acc)

P. Rothwell (Ross) v J. O'Boyle (Acc)

G. Croston (Acc) v A. Lewis (Acc)

G.Yeates (Acc) v K. Fish (Acc)

S. McIntrye (Jnr) (Acc) v E. Walton (Rish)

D. Byrom (Acc) v C. Taylor (Acc)

T. Gill (Acc) v K.Claxon (Ross)

D. Grimshaw (Acc) v D. Fisher (Acc)

J. Eddleston (Acc) v P. Kirkland (Gt. Har)

S. Taylor (Acc) v M. Aspin (Gt. Har)

A. Rothwell (Ross) v R. McWade (Acc)

A. Thompson (Grn. Haw) v J. Ashworth (Acc)

M. Rigg (Acc) v A. Smith (Acc)

P. Mabbutt (Bax) v W. Rimmington (Acc)

T. Briggs (Acc)v P. Mara (Acc)

THIRD ROUND RESULTS

P Mara (Acc) beat T Lewis (Acc) 3&2

A Lees (Acc) bt S Lees (Ross) 1up

N Grimshaw (Rish) bt A Dillon (Acc) 5&4

K Fish (Acc) bt M Pemberton (Acc) 2&1

K Claxon (Ross) bt Steve McIntrye (Snr) 7&6

D Fisher (Acc) bt Jamie Harling (Acc) on 19th

D Grimshaw (Acc) bt V Cooper (Acc) 2&1

M Rigg (Acc) bt A Connor (Rish) 3&2

S Taylor (Acc) bt C Whittle (Rish) 9&8

A Guest (Acc) bt D Halstead (Gn Haw) 19th hole

C Taylor (Acc) bt D Coleman (Bax) 2&1

Paul Mabbutt (Bax) bt C White (Bax) 4&3

T Briggs (Acc) bt P Biggins (Acc) 2&1

R McWade (Acc) bt T Walsh (Bax) 2&1

M Aspin (Gt Har) bt M Conroy (Whall) 19th

G Yates (Acc) bt R Whittle (RIsh) 6&5

A Yates (Acc) bt P McDermott (Bax) 4&3

J Eddleston (Acc) bt D Richardson (Acc) 2up

A Smith (Acc) bt P Fielding (Acc) 4&3

T Gill (Acc) bt N Broderick (Bax) 2&1

J O'Boyle (Acc) bt L Baxendale (Gn Haw) 4&3

D Byrom (Acc) bt S Parker (Ross) 19th hole

G Croston (Acc) beat R Sharples (Rish) 3&1

S McIntyre (Jnr) (Acc) bt J Higgins (Bax) 6&4

W Rimmington (Acc) beat I Grime (Acc) 1up

P Kirtlan (Gt Har) bt S Cosby (Acc) 5&4

J Ashworth (Acc) bt C Robertson (Gn Haw) 4&3

A Thompson (Gt Har) bt T Thornber (Wh)

P Swan (Gn Haw) bt D Bottomley (Bax)

E Walton (Rish) bt N Crawshaw (Gt Har)

P Rothwell (Ross) bt F Whittle (Acc)

A Rothwell (Ross) bt L Shaw (Acc)