The latest Sidmouth Jeweller’s Friday Stableford was of special significance to both Mark Thomas and David Pepperell (Stonkey), writes George Carr.

Although veteran Les Pratt won it on the day by a comfortable five point margin scoring 41 points, and very well done that was to be sure, Thomas and Pepperell were meanwhile locked in combat for the Friday Summer League Title, with Thomas holding a slim four point lead on the first tee (122-118) after a nip-and-tuck summer-long head to head between two very sound golfers.

Mark Thomas, hardly at his best, carded only 32 points on the day and must have been apprehensive as an in-form Stonkey approached the 18th green.

However, although Stonkey registered three points better with 35 it was to prove not quite enough and so Thomas it was, able to claim the Friday Sidmouth Jeweller’s league title, albeit by a narrow two point margin, 127-125.

John Barnard was second on the day with an excellent back-nine and 36 points, keeping ahead of Lester Wilmington and Chris Ashley on count-back, leaving Wilmington no doubt rueing the double bogies he registered on the relatively straight forward fourth and 18th holes - silly game sometimes!