Stoke Rochford Golf: Ladies pip Belton Park in Mail on Sunday Competition

Golfers played the par and stroke index of another randomly drawn course which proved a real test with galeforce winds and all three scores to count.

Winners Dave Wilkins, Don Clements and Don Werner, playing the card of Oswestry GC, won with 110 points, a full 10 points clear of Colin Doughty and Dave Waling, playing Wokingham GC, with the luxury of Don Clements as their sleeping partner.

In third spot, also with 100 points, were early starters Tom Keegan, Ray Beal and John Martindale who played the card of Arcott Hall GC, in Northumberland.

Eddie Plant retains his overall lead in the series on 33 points, with his playing partner Greg Ewart unable to close the gap and remaining in second with 29 points.

An ominous move into third place was made by Alan Dolby (28pts) who has been overall champion five times in the past 10 years.

* Stoke ladies’ season began by narrowly defeating Belton Park Ladies on Sunday in a close-fought first round of the Mail on Sunday.

There were five singles matches in which Sue Booth beat Julie Hamer, Pam Watson lost to Issie Guest, Pauline Haggerty beat Joy Stepney, Chris Rowley lost to Sheila Mason and June Miller halved with Anna Clark.

This left the teams tied on two-and-a-half points each, leaving the final pairings to play sudden death.

June did the honours, defeating Anna at the first play-off hole.