THE men’s PGA National Pro-Am medal attracted 85 starters and excellent scores were recorded.

A popular score was 69, of which there were six, but the top score of the day was 67, with Gavin Gay taking top honours from Matt Gale on countback in Division One.

Winner of Division Two on countback was Howard Bonfield with a 68, while Tim Bassett topped Division Three with a 69, also on countback.

Gay, Gale, Bonfield, Tyler Lennox-Gordon, Don McAllister and Robert Bryan all received a one-shot handicap reduction.

RESULTS Division One: 1 Gavin Gay, 76 (9) 67 (on countback); 2 Matt Gale, 77 (10) 67; 3 Peter Marshall, 78 (9) 69.

Division Two: 1 Howard Bonfield, 81 (13) 68 (on countback); 2 Tyler Lennox-Gordon, 88 (20) 68; 3 Toby Eeles, 84 (15) 69.

Division Three: 1 Tim Bassett, 93 (24) 69 (on countback); 2 Don McAllister, 90 (21) 69 (on countback); 3 Robert Bryan, 91 (22) 69 (on countback).

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LAST Thursday’s veterans’ competition was the Prostate Cancer Charity stableford and 13 players carded 36 points or more.

Organiser of the event, Paul Skelton, with 34 points, could only creep into 14th slot in Division One.

Forty-one points were needed to come out on top of Division One and this was achieved by Dougie Howells, who nudged Dave Smith into the runner-up position.

Leader in Division Two was Jim Sullivan with 38 points, two clear of runner-up Colin Clark. Howells and David Inglesent both received a one-shot handicap cut.

RESULTS Division One: 1 Dougie Howells, (17) 41 points; 2 Dave Smith, (20) 40; 3 David Inglesent, (18) 39 (on countback).

Division Two: 1 Jim Sullivan, (22) 38; 2 Colin Clark, (22) 36; 3 Ron Hobson. (23) 35.

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CLUB treasurer Hal Webb, who has been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, gave a brief talk where he stressed the importance of men seeing their doctor for a check-up should suspicious symptoms arise.

Paul Skelton, who received successful treatment 10 years ago, thanked the players for their donations and the 50 raffle prizes, which raised £711 for the charity.

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A COMPETITION where the golfer plays the course is not psychologically any easy one.

Unlike a stableford, golfers have to play one or more below their handicap to get a plus, play to their handicap for a zero, while anything over is a minus.

Many of us found this form of scoring unnerving at best and negative at worst.

The results indicate the frustration felt by many players. Of the 35 in the ladies’ par competition, only two finished with plusses.

Carole Brown took the top prize with plus three, one ahead of Carolyn McAllister, who has received a 2.5-shot handicap cut.