FIFTY SEVEN juniors from Devon took part in the Sidmouth Junior Open on Sunday.

FIFTY SEVEN juniors from Devon took part in the Sidmouth Junior Open on Sunday. With the new order of merit table operating, the opens are attracting more and more juniors to enter. Sidmouth fielded six juniors and three of those were in the prizes.George Barber grabbed the nearest the pin prize, James Winchester and Jack Hodge both picked up prizes in the main event. My thanks go to all the helpers involved for making the day so successful. One of the club's much-appreciated green-keeping team, Scott Gaylard, collected 42 points after work on Monday afternoon to supplement his wages with the top prizes in the Stableford. Vice captain, and chairman of competitions, Nick Bater stormed home with 24 points, highlighted by birdies at the 10th and 16th to take second on 39, beating Colin Mitchell and Stuart Coles, amongst others, on count-back.The round of the day belonged to Brian Lissaman who showed no mercy to the course as he amassed 48 points for a nine-point win in the Seniors' Division. It's difficult to pick the highlights out of such a score!lThe Sidmouth Seniors Open attracted 111 players from Sidmouth and 18 other clubs in the South West. This large turnout stretched the car parking facilities to the limit but, although not as regimented as last year, all were accommodated and visitors were impressed by the sight of Colin Paddon in blazer and club tie guiding them to available spaces. Play started at 8am and Brian Lissaman amazed the captain when he was able to respond to a last-minute request for a substitute and made it to the first tee from his bed in Budleigh in a little under an hour. The greens staff were out very early making final preparations and, as a result, the course was in excellent condition. The day was dry but cold initially and starter Barry Jones had to send an SOS to his wife to bring extra clothing in order to avert the possibility of hypothermia! The lady ball spotters provided valuable information to the more wayward golfers throughout the day and their efforts were very much appreciated.Brian Lissaman's early morning sprint must have had a good effect on his golf as he, together with Doug Goodall and Glynn Hewitt, won the first prize for home players with 86 points. Other home prize winners included:, J Carroll, M Humberstone and B Pettitt (2nd), J Edwards, J Fielding and J Culver (3rd), T Salvidge, J Bainbridge and N Sharp (4th), and C Rowe (nearest the pin competition). All three home teams recorded 84 points and the positions were decided on count- back.The Salver and first prize for visitors was won by a team from Sherborne Golf Club who will now add a new name to the inscriptions. Second place for visitors was taken by a team from Honiton with others from Tiverton and Enmore Park (Bridgewater) in third and fourth places.On Friday a team of seniors played a match at Okehampton. The Okehampton course is not dissimilar to Sidmouth, with many slopes, both on the fairways and greens. Whilst Sidmouth was shrouded in mist throughout the day the weather on the edge of the moor was sunny and conditions for golf excellent. Unfortunately, this and the course similarities, did not help the Sidmouth team who lost by 51/2-1/2 matches, with the half being gained by Mike Humberstone and Pop Banfield. Mike had clearly maintained the form he had shown when he won on Monday, but Pop was distracted by a driver on offer in the Pro's shop which seemed like a bargain until he tried it out on the course. Hopefully, when Okehampton visit Sidmouth for the return match in July, the 'home advantage rule' will apply and Pop will have sorted out his driver.