Sidmouth advanced into the 5th round of the national Mail on Sunday competition last Sunday after a 3-2 win over close neighbours East Devon, writes Charlie Jarvis.

First on course for Sidmouth was Mark Thomas and he gave the team the perfect start beating twice Devon Amateur champion Paul Newcombe. Newcombe never recovered from losing the first five holes and finally succumbed three-and-two.

Duncan Taylor won the second match against former Sidmouth member, Bob Horton by the same score leaving Sidmouth just needing to win one of the remaining three matches to progress into the next round.

Fittingly it was club captain David Pepperell who sealed victory as he bagged a three-and-two success over Jim Colvin.

The final Sidmouth players out struggled from the start.

Jonathan Lee lost his match to East Devon’s mixed golf champion Bruce Chapman, whilst Neil Holland’s lack of stamina brought on by his new weight watchers diet meant he was thoroughly beaten by another former Sidmouth player, the very sharply dressed Mark Lavers.