WHERE: Furness Golf Club

WHEN: September 29/30, 1984

ALEX Higgins, Howard Clark and Gordon Brand were just some of the familiar sporting names teeing off at Furness Golf Club in 1984.

The club, which celebrates its 145th birthday this year with a special pro-am event, last held such a competition 33 years ago.

Then, it was the name of Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler at the top of the leaderboard – claiming victory in the Telemeter Engineering Northern PGA Tournament which preceded the pro-am.

Chandler, now better known as an agent for the likes of Lee Westwood and US Masters champion Danny Willett, followed up his win by partnering world snooker champion Alex Higgins in the following day's pro-am.

Playing as the professional for Mere Golf Club, he shot rounds of 65 – a new Furness course record – and 66 for a total of 131 in the PGA competition.

He landed the £1,000 first prize with a fine run of golf over the closing five holes, shooting five birdies and an eagle.

“I knew I was in with a good chance after the first round as I like being a front-runner,” he told the Evening Mail's Nick Helliwell at the time.

“It's been a terrible year for me, but it all came together and the score of 131 is my best in competition. It's particularly pleasing to win against such a high-class field.”

He added: “I holed a putt from eight feet for a birdie on the 14th, then my 40-yard pitch at the next went straight in for an eagle.

“I drove the 16th green and took two putts for another birdie, holed a nine-footer on the 17th and pitched to within three feet of the flag on the last.”

Chandler finished three strokes ahead of Brand and Malcolm McKenzie, with Kendal's John Brennand fourth.

The following day, the top 40 professionals from the Northern PGA returned for the 18-hole pro-am, joined by the likes of Higgins – collected from Newcastle by Chandler and brought to Barrow for the event.

Clark left the World Matchplay Championship at Sunningdale to drive up and take part, with big crowds following the player around the course – the youngsters mainly watching Higgins in action.

Stephen Hadfield, from North Manchester, won the pro aspect of the event, having played with a team from Lakes Roofing.