AFTER four months of 16-hole golf there was a big turnout for Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club's men’s first Sunday competition on the improved course, writes Peter Crowter.

The course is now back to 18 holes and with a new path down the cliff to the sixth.

It was the March Medal and 67 players turned out on a cold breezy morning.

Having played non-qualifying competitions for the last few months, the higher handicap players seem to be the ones that have benefited most and nett scores were better in the lower division.

The best nett scores by far were in Division Three where the top three players all carded a nett 67 with Geoff Joy taking the top spot after countback.

Four strokes separated him from the leader of Division Two and that was Roy Gill with a nett 71.

Gary Edwardes produced the best score in Division One with a nett 73.

RESULTS

Division One: 1 Gary Edwardes (83-10=73), 2 Mike Savage (83-9=74), 3 Julian Green (85-10=75).

Division Two: 1 Roy Gill (84-13=71), 2 (acb) Martin Horton (85-13=72), 3 George Brown (85-13=72).

Division Three: 1 (acb) Geoff Joy (87-20=67), 2 (acb) Duncan Jones (92-25=67), 3 Dave Faithfull (86-19=67).

Jones' handicap was reduced by two shots, Joy and Faithfull by one.

The Junior Medal on Saturday was won by Patrick Harper who carded 90-20=70.

Veterans' Section

MEMBERS played their fouth and final round of the Winter Shield on a fine Thursday morning where 48 players took part.

In this Stableford competition scores in Division One were appreciably higher than those in the lower division.

The top-flight winner with 34 points was Ed Hanson with Howard Bonfield taking second after countback one point behind.

The best score in Division Two was 30 points and this was carded by Gil Roberts with Bob Dennis the runner-up after countback with 28.

RESULTS

Division One: 1 Ed Hanson (15) 34 points, 2 (acb) Howard Bonfield (16) 33, 3 Jimmy Gbadebo (12) 33, 4 Marcus Beresford(17) 31.

Division Two: 1 Gil Roberts (24) 30 points, 2 (acb) Bob Dennis (21) 28, 3 (acb) David Smith (22) 28, 4 Brian Osborne (22) 28.

Howard Bonfield has won the four-round Winter Shield competition.

This year all four rounds were played over 16 holes.

Bonfield was the one with the highest total score of his best three rounds with 100 points.

Ladies’ Section

THIS week it was the Saturday ladies who had the best of the weather and they enjoyed playing a Medford, with the format being eight holes Stableford, eight holes medal, writes Di Neal.

The lowest score counted and in first place was lady captain Pat Baldwin, who came on with 22 points.

Liz Thompson was second with 25 points and third was Carolyn Mcallister on 27.

As a section we were really looking forward to being the first to play 18 holes and use the new path on sixth but Storm Jake put paid to that.

Wind and rain meant the cancellation of our first medal of the year, but nevertheless a few ladies braved the weather to play a few holes and try the path, which was voted a great success.