AXE CLIFF - n first class winter conditions, 41 members took part in the Seniors' February Medal last Friday, writes Janet Dack.

Five players equalled or bettered par with the round of the day coming from Geoff Hughes (16) with an amazing 64 nett. Three strokes further back with an excellent 67nett and claiming second place was Rob Grove (16). Three players recorded 70 nett and third spot on countback went to Malcolm Glass (18), with Chris Walker (13) and Peter Knighting (15) the two players to miss out on the prizes.

?The men competed for round seven of the Winter League. First place went to Steve Anning (12) and Richard Gibbons (8) with 48 points. In second place Stuart Mackie (8) and Peter Keats (19) with 44 points and taking third place Mike Davis (19) and Andy Abrahams (27) with 43 points.

Ladies' Section - there was no competition this Wednesday just match play in readiness for the league matches this year.

HONITON - The popular American Foursomes was this week’s Tuesday Mixed format and the winning pair were immediate past lady captain Sue Ritchie playing with new member Bob Barnes, with a score of 38pts.

In second place were Avril and Peter Shepherd with 36pts (on c/b on last 6 holes) and 3rd place, also 36pts (again on c/b on last 9 holes) were Jan Dickinson and Paul Ritchie.

?Ladies Section - another wet, windy and cold day shortened the competition on Wednesday from 14 to 10 holes. However, 41 ladies struggled with the conditions to complete this "Surprise Stableford", in which all players were re-drawn, after the competition, into threes (not the ladies they played with) and the best combined three scores won.

This made for an interesting and "surprise" finish. Jackie Seager, Susan Hyde and Penny Blackburn made up the winning team with 54 points, with Christine Whitley, Henrietta Bradshaw and Linda Northover second on 52 points. Elizabeth Ward, Catherine Doherty and Hazel Clifford came in third with 50 points while Sue Ritchie, Chris Pearce and Lesley Oxenham brought up the rear with 47 points. Hats off to Competition Secretary, Jennifer Pyle, for organizing another great fun competition - if only the weather would co-operate we could really enjoy our winter non-qualifying games!

Seniors’ Section - To say that Captain John Discombe's choice of game format was controversial would be to understate the case. 69 seniors played a Modified Murphys which certainly sorted the men from the boys. This format is scored as a Stableford but with a much exaggerated difference between the points awarded for good and poor results. Consequently the best player came in with 20 points while there were scores of minus 18 and even a nil return.

At this end of the scale the seniors can take comfort from the knowledge that their anonymity will be preserved. The winner in Division One by a big margin was Alan Pollock on plus 20. The downside for him and to popular acclaim he was shown a red card and his winter playing handicap reduced by two shots, courtesy of a previous win. Jim Wallis and Vic Wood followed on 15 points, John Discombe had 13 and Keith Crane 12 points.T

he Second Division was won by Peter Blake with 14 points. Runner-up was Jack Phillips on 10 followed by Bob Underwood, Ken Beake and Larry Halliwell. One wag claimed that he needed a calculator to tot up his scores, but the captain pointed out that one was available between his ears!