Sidmouth’s 2018 Seniors Open got underway amid concerns of possible mist issues, but the first few groups got to the 15th before the siren sounded to halt the match on safety grounds, writes Hugh Dorliac.

Play resumed after a short while, but within an hour the mist had returned to delay things again for another half hour.

After that the 104 entrants had a great day on the course amid sunshine and a fairly stiff breeze coming home.

There were over fifty visitors to the Open from as far afield as London and Gloucestershire, and as well as a complimentary bacon bap and coffee, they were playing for three nearest the pin prizes and a longest drive prize.

This was won by Clive Murrell of Yeovil, who received a litre of whisky. The winners of the visitors’ team prize were R Pearce and M Main from Libbaton with 44 points, who shared £100 of M&S vouchers and their names engraved on the visitors’ salver trophy.

Home player winners were as follows: in fourth place, David Cowler and Len Wright with 42 points; third, Barry Jones and Bob Cook with 42; and the runners-up were Lester Willmington and Bob Webber with an eight over par 44 points.

However, the winners, who also shared £100 and received the 2018 Sidmouth Seniors Open trophy, were H Thompson and Graham Vincent with a tremendous score of 47 stableford points.

A sum in excess of £350 was collected for the Captain’s Charity, this year being the Sidmouth Hospiscare Trust.