AFTER two washout Mondays, where no play was possible, a Stableford qualifier greeted our intrepid seniors on July 22.

28 players took to the course on a day of mixed weather but drizzle and wind didn’t affect Messrs Osborne and Reeve, who were the overall and divisional winners.

Holes 11, 15 and 17 challenged all players with the upper back nine baring its teeth. In summary, it was a difficult day for golf but some excellent scores were recorded by the top half of the field nevertheless, all registering scores in the thirties.

Nigel Osborne scored 40 points to win ahead of George Reeve (38pts), Robert Gibbs (37pts), Mark Whitworth (36pts), Philip Green (34pts) and Roy Baldwin (34pts). George topped Division One and Nigel the way in Division Two.

Birdie twos were scored by Mark Mitchell on the third, Michael Whitelaw & Alistair Forbes on the fifth and George Reeve on the seventh.

In other news, the return match leg of the annual Tamar Cup was played away at St Mellion on July 2. A slender one-point lead was available to Dartmouth from the home leg a week prior.

Alas, Dartmouth seniors took a hammering at St Mellion with opponents beating us 7.5 - 0.5, overall giving them an 11-5 victory. A slight saving grace was Gordon Kidd’s nearest-the-pin win for Dartmouth.

The Tamar Cup had been held by Dartmouth for the last 11 years so a great run has come to an end. Hopefully it will be back in the trophy cabinet next year!

There was a friendly match also played which saw Dart secure a more positive outcome, at home against Torquay on July 9.

They earned a much-needed 5-1 victory with big 6&5 wins from Brooking & Bonser and Osborne & Atkins leading the way in some rather unpleasant weather.

Malcolm Toone got nearest the pin and will no doubt enjoy the wine.

In the fourth round of five in the South Devon seniors league, played at Downes Crediton on 16 July, despite a top score of 44 points by John Gratton & Steve Maris, it was not a particularly good day for the rest of the team.

Mustering just two league points leaves Dartmouth in fifth position but the final fixture, in September, will be held on home soil at least.

Staddon Heights sit atop the standings with 32 points, then come Churston (30pts), Dawlish Warren (24pts), Downes Crediton (20) and Dartmouth (14).

Lastly, to the Blight Trophy individual knockout quarter-final results, and there were wins for Gary Bonser, Mark Mitchell and Kevin Hoare over Tony Hall, Paul Marels and Michael Whitelaw respectively.

Next week sees the delayed third round of the Senior’s Cup.