The third round of the Sidmouth Jewellers Friday Night League was won by Steve Channing with an excellent round of 41 points. Off his handicap of 17, he managed to achieve nine pars and only one ‘blob’ so has had his handicap cut by two shots.

The course is still playing very hard. The much better weather has led to some grass growth but the new rough mower has only recently been brought into operation and so it is working more than full time and it will take a little while for the rough to be brought into control, at a new, slightly lower planned level than in previous years. This has meant difficult scoring and Friday saw standard scratch set at 68, two higher than normal.

James Winchester was in second place with 36 points, winning on countback from Howard Cushing. After a poor opening three holes ‘Smith’ then had 11 pars and a series of net pars over the next fifteen holes to see a welcome return to form.

Cushing has been struggling for a while so he will be pleased to see his name in the winners’ enclosure. His six on the final hole cost him dear but he still has a handicap reduction and a boost to his confidence.