THE first of Lyme Golf Club’s two summer Seniors Open events proved an outstanding success, both in numbers taking part and in the results achieved.

Not only was the event fully subscribed, it was oversubscribed with visiting players and there were no spaces available for members of the host club.

With prizes on offer for a better-ball competition, two nearest the pins, the best back nine, the best front nine and for the ‘nearest the line’ on the 18th, competition was closely fought for the honours.

Also, with a number of players who had taken part in the recent Golf Week returning to play, local knowledge was to prove key.

In the team better-ball event, Bridport pairing Terry Kearley and Mike Brake took the honours with a very creditable 44 points over Chester Barnes and Chris Coles from Churston Golf Club with 43 points.

Nearest the pin on the eighth was Mike Upham from Henbury while Terry Virgo of Exeter Golf & Country Club took the honours on the 13th.

The best back nine was recorded by Rees and Bristow from Mendip, with honours on the front nine going to club-mates Surrier and Jackson.

Mindful of the shorter distances achieved by senior players from the tee, the ‘nearest the line’ contest was based on the proximity of the ball played from the tee to a line 10 metres in length down the centre of the fairway, some 175m from the 18th tee.

Inevitably, the longer hitters overshot the mark by some distance but with direction from the tee proving paramount the honours went to John Pulman from East Devon Golf Club.

Overall, the day was an outstanding success and congratulations are due to Ted Baker and his team of helpers for the smooth running of the event.

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WITH the continued improvement in the weather from that of the preceding weekend, a field of 80 senior players assembled to contest the monthly stableford competition.

Whilst the weather held good for the early starters, those teeing off in the early afternoon not only suffered the onset of the forecast rain but also had to abandon their rounds after only a few holes due the arrival of the typical Lyme Regis fog.

For those who did complete their rounds the conditions were in the main good with greens running true but with the residual moisture from the overnight rain reducing the run on the fairways.

There were, however, some outstanding scores. In Division One Brian Ridley produced yet another fine round to gain first place with 40 points over Brian Clarke with 37. Third on countback was Peter Hardisty.

Division Two featured an exceptional round of 46 points by Philip Pardoe-Williams with Graham Winter producing another steady round to score 39 points in second place.

Third was Peter Williams with 37 points.

* The club championships, scheduled for last Sunday, had to be postponed due to fog and will now take place on July 31.