As there was a gap in the club diary, Sidmouth Golf Club Professional Ben Thorn hastily organised a Stableford competition which attracted a good field on Saturday eager to play in the warm spring-like conditions, writes John Rockey.

Most of the starters thought they had a good chance of winning as Lee Wenham and Carl Sheehan, who are the current ‘hot shots’ in the Winter League, were not available to play and this gave others a chance at the prizes. There was also an added attraction for some because this was a ‘non-qualifying’ competition which meant that anyone having a good score would not automatically get their handicap cut, although I am reliably informed that the new handicap reduction committee will carefully look at all scorecards for this event.

Peter Spooner, who plays off ninehandicap, obviously reaped the benefit of his warm weather training in Florida and took the top prize with 43 points. Peter, who has been playing really well over the past few weeks relished the chance to be unencumbered by non-performing partners which he has had to endure in his recent midweek team matches and strode to a two-shot victory.

Second with 41 points was Trevor Kerridge who also took advantage of the good course conditions to come in with a five under par score to reflect his general good form. Third was John Barnard, playing off 12, with 40 points who managed to increase his recent winnings, clearly benefiting from his early season golf lessons from Club Professional Ben Thorn.

?Winter League 3 Man Texas Scramble - The call for those interested in playing in the Texas Scramble was posted on the notice board at Sidmouth Golf Club for the last few weeks prior to names being drawn for this three man team event. However, with all these teams already well out on the course enjoying a beautiful Sunday morning, Messrs Barnard, Cooper and Cushing decided to dispense with the uncertainties of having their partners drawn by others and turned up on the first tee and made up their own team.

Barnard, fresh from his third place in the Stableford the previous day, along with his partners Don Cooper and Howard Cushing came in with the best score of the morning of 57.3 shots to beat off all challengers.

Their tactic of leaving their participation in the competition until the last possible moment, stopped Lee Wenham from winning for the third week running as he came in second with partners Stuart Ruffle and Craig Melluish with a score of 58.9.

Following in third place was Derek Platten, Jim Anderton and Vernon Ruffle with a score of 59.4.

The Texas Scramble counted towards the Winter League title and, with his second place, Lee Wenham scored four points, to edge into joint fourth place, but still a long way behind the three leaders.

Still out in front is Carl Sheehan who, in spite of not scoring any further points this week, leads the League with 50 points, with absentee Moray Boscence remaining on 37 points, tying with Jonathan Lee who added two more points this week in second.