LYME: After four days of thick fog and inevitable course closure, Lyme golfers took to the course in high numbers on Sunday, to enjoy a bright sunny morning for the March Stableford.

LYME: After four days of thick fog and inevitable course closure, Lyme golfers took to the course in high numbers on Sunday, to enjoy a bright sunny morning for the March Stableford. With a chilly breeze blowing but the course in excellent condition for the time of year, the playing conditions were more than matched by the carded scores.

In division 1 Peter Mayles, playing off a handicap of 10, carded an excellent 40 to claim victory. In second place, only one point behind with 39 points was Adrian Morgan (4). Another regular in the "winners enclosure" was Peter Spiers (14) who carded an excellent 38 points. In fourth was club junior George Seed (13) who carded 36 points playing to his current handicap.

Division two saw Les Bounds (17) feature again with an electrifying 3 under par equivalent round of 39 points which beat Peter Locke (15) by a one point margin.

Third, just one point behind, was Hugo Bugg (15) with 37 points. Although Division two players failed to record any birdie 'twos' there were a total of six recorded by the division one players. In all the overall level of play was a true reflection of the weather and course conditions.

Last Friday, over 100 members of the Lyme Regis Golf club took part in a charity "race night" in aid of the captain's designated charity, the Friends of the Dorset County Hospital.

Master minded by this year's men's vice captain, Ray Farrell, ably supported by members of the ladies' section who appeared resplendent in jockeys' silks, the event was staged as series of pre recorded video races. The placing of bets was keen throughout the evening and, although the majority of punters returned home with lighter wallets and purses, the captain's charity benefitted to the tune of well over �800.

AXE CLIFF: The men played their final round of the Winter League in spring lovely sunny weather and this reflected in the scores.

In first place, with massive 47 points, were S Brown and M Yates, the score pushing them into second place overall in the league. Second were P Smith and B Gray with 43, narrowly beating P Keats and B Kelland with 42. The winners of the Winter League competition were B Waller and M Cottam and third place went to D Quinn and D Nichols.

The Ladies and the Seniors played a friendly Greensome competition on Monday in glorious sunshine.

The scores were close but the winners, with 35 points, were Barbara Cummings and Gilbert Cox. Just behind, with 34 points, were Pauline Standerwick and Chris Walker. There was a battle for third place with three couples coming in with 31 points and the lucky pair on the count back ruling were Sandra Walker and Phil Christmas beating Hazel Williamson and Hugh Willis into fourth place.

The Seniors were in action on Thursday last in the first round of the Emerton Court Trophy. The opponent, on a home and away basis, was Torrington against whom Axe Cliff has won more often than not. The visitors surprisingly built up a 3 1/2 to 11/2 lead.

The winning pairing for Axe Cliff was Brian Wilkes and Mike Tomes and the half point was won by Tony Strong and Gilbert Cox. The second leg is not until April 1 at Torrington and. as Axe Cliff have won there in the past, all is not lost!

Rob Grove and Bryan Dale proved too good and romped to a nine stroke win in the last round of the Seniors' Winter League programme.

HONITON: The Winter League games are drawing to a close now as cold, frosty mornings give way to bright spring sunshine.

Two epic battles took place this weekend to decide the teams that would contest next week's Sun Am final. Each semi pitted old hands against eager newcomers and one of each category triumphed to create an interesting and well balanced final. Match one saw newcomers Ed and Richard Reece coming from two down to beat old hands Vic Wood and Mike Watkins 3+2, with past winners Dave Morgan and Ron Graham taking their match by the same score against Julian Netherway and Graham Richards.

The rest of the club entertained themselves with a 4BBB Stableford played for fun. Just like the Sun Am pairings the field was made up from solid club members and fresher faces who had come to the game via the Open days run last year.

One year on and captain John Stabb is again inviting all comers to try the game for themselves on May 9.

Despite the varied field it was the tried and tested players who enjoyed victory this time round. In first place was the pairing of Fred Thomas and Stan Squire with 41pts followed by Dave Lavendar and Jim Wallis with 40pts and Chris Earle and Tom Payne coming third with 39pts. l l The format for the Mixed Competition was American Foursomes. The winners, with 37pts, winning on the back 9, were Ro Poole and Stan Squire. Second were Jennifer Pyle and Mike Watts and third, with 36 points, were Barbara Eastwood and Paul Witton.

This week the Ladies played a Qualifying Stableford. Congratulations to the winner of the Silver Division - Jackie Seager with a wonderful score of 45pts (thus playing to a six handicap) which reduced Jackie's handicap from 15 to 12. Second, with 36, was Henrietta Bradshaw. Bronze Div 1 - 1, Jenny Raison, 37; 2, Barbara Mullett, 35; 3, Jeanne Mackinnon, 34 pts.

Bronze Div 2: 1, Christine White, 32; 2, Lesley Farley, 31.

Senior Peter Atkins played last game at the club as he going to demonstrate his golfing prowess in the land of the Gauls.

As a colourful and long standing member of the Section he was given a send off with an ode penned by resident bard Mike Jones, entitled "Arrivederci Atkins" in recognition of Peter's language skills.

On the golfing front it was a foggy and wet four ball better ball this week enjoyed (sic) by 74 players. Making light of the conditions were the pairing of Mike Stroud and Brian Morrison who amassed 41 points to win first prize. Second were Jim Wallis and Ron Rogers on 39 points, third Angus Falconer and Bob Underwood 38 points, ahead of Ron Graham and Brian Hoepelman on count back. Fifth place went to Fred Thomas and Colin Hamlett on 37 points. Four two's were scored with the team of Vic Wood and Mike Jones both achieving this feat on the 12th despite it being impossible to see the green.