2024 Platinum
The 32-year-old, who's set 14 course records - one for every year since turning professional, as it transpires - led the field of north-west players bidding for places in the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship, to be held at Southport & Ainsdale in mid-August.
Mike fired a three-under 69, winning by a stroke from Chorley's Mark Bradley, Craig Hislop (Eden) and Welshman Andrew Barnett (St Melyd). The Denton man will now lead the 20 successful qualifiers, from a field of over 70, in the £78,000 Glenmuir 72-hole final, where the winner picks up £10,000. In addition the leading 10 finishers gain points towards selection for Great Britain & Ireland's PGA Cup team to play the United States (the club pros' version of the Ryder Cup) at The K Club, Dublin next year.
Mike was in sparkling form over one of the region's toughest courses, which was opened only two years ago. He scooped up seven birdies, four on the inward half, ending with a fine flourish on the 569-yard 18th hole by sinking a 15-footer for a birdie.
His potential nightmare occurred at the long 12th, where he failed to extricate himself from the rough with his second shot and found a water hazard. He finally made the green with his fourth - and almost inevitably took three putts for a double-bogey seven.
He righted the ship immediately, though, birdieing the next two holes.
This will be Mike's fifth appearance in the Glenmuir final - he was twice in the top 15, both times by coincidence at County Louth in Ireland (1996 and 2001).
In the eight-man play-off for two places - won by Dave Valentine and Anthony Sproston - the third man, Brookdale's Tony Cuppello, couldn't quite match his performance a year ago at St Annes Old Links, where he was the only play-off survivor who reached the final, again on the 74-mark.