The eigtheenth round of the Sidmouth Jewellers Friday night league was won again by Mark Thomas with an excellent 40 points, writes John Barnard.

He had a mixed round, five birdies offset by four bogies and a double on the 12th, but an overall gross round of 67 to further consolidate him on his five handicap.

In second place was Adrian (Basher) Baldwin playing off a handicap of 20.

He looked to be playing to his handicap until pars over the last three holes meant a score of 39 points. David (Stonky) Pepperell has been suffering from an injured back for some weeks now but playing through the pain, he managed 38 points. Two under gross over the last six holes was the key to his score and was enough to beat Geoff Lory on countback.

Mark Thomas is now an enormous 28 points in the lead in the Friday night league, but he will miss three Fridays over the next two and a half months so if there is to be a serious challenge from Craig Melluish in second place or Lee Wenham in third, a further five points back, they will have to take advantage when Mark is sunning himself.