It was the Molyneux Financial Planning competition on Saturday at Sidmouth Golf Club, writes John Barnard.

Played over three divisions depending on handicap, this popular competition was played in good conditions although the rough is getting more lush and testing as the recent wet weather stimulates some growth.

In Division One, Neil Holland showed his class by taking the honours with a nett 65 (gross 64).

Four birdies, and just the two bogies on holes five and six, were enough on the day.

In second place was Mark Thomas with a nett 66, just beating Matt Bavington on countback.

Mark had a fairly poor start, using all his shots on the front nine, but an eagle on the long 16th hole sharpened up his card so it was a shame he gave the two shots back on the next hole when he posted a six!

Matt has been playing solid golf all year and two birdies on the back nine meant all looked good, but then he caught the double bogie disease on the 18th!

In Division Two, Mike Davis had the nett round of the day with 59.

It is rare that anyone breaks 60, but four pars on the front nine plus four more on the back nine, plus two birdies, meant a two shot handicap reduction to 16, and the best competitive round of Mike’s career at Sidmouth.

John Game belied his advancing years to post an excellent nett 64 which included consecutive two’s (on holes five and six) and then another birdie on the 10th, meant a fabulous start which just slipped a little over the closing few holes. Davis Ash was third with a nett 65.

In Division Three, John Nicolle had an excellent nett 62 to win his division by 13 shots!

This win will move him up a Division, but five pars and a birdie on hole 15 reduced his handicap by a couple. Ken Mylne was second with a nett 75 and Vernon Ruffle took third spot with a nett 76.