HAVING a two point lead Holsworthy Veterans made the trip to Teign Valley for the away leg in the first round of the Emerton Court competition knowing their task would be a difficult one and so it turned out to be.

Alan Abrams and Ray Holness with a superb 5 and 3 win got the team off to a flying start. A halved match by Brian Hayes and Reg Daniel and a one hole loss by George Booth and Brian Axford raised the hosts' spirits only for them to be dashed with Syd Pearce and Colin Walmsley recording a win by 3 and 2 quickly followed by the last pair of Ken McGeorge and Ian Hemmings getting a half. A triumphant team that now looks forward to the second round, the decisive 6½ to 3½ overall win putting captain, Tony Tomassi and his team in good heart.

Tony himself showed his capabilities in competing in the Veterans' Invitation competition, in partnership with Frank Donaghy from Torrington Golf Club. Their better ball score of 44 points gave them top spot but only just, as the back nine came into the reckoning to decide the issue with Roger Turner and Dave Smalldon second and Brian Toop and Alan McClure third, 42pts; both visitors also from Torrington. Ray Holness and Colin Walmsley took the prizes for being nearest the pin on the 8th and 14th holes respectively.

The Ladies have had an excellent week recording two excellent wins. In the North Devon Friendly League they decisively beat the visitors from Saunton by 6 matches to 1, the team being Gwen Adams, Sue Epton, Anne French, Barbara Lake, Veronica Oke, Freda Olde and Sue Watters.

This was followed by a 5½ to 1½ home win against Torquay in the County President's competition for silver division players, the team being Barbara Abrams, Carole Baker, Ruth Bennett, Julie Ellis, Muriel Heywood, Carol Skrzypzak and Ely Walmsley.

The weather was fine, the sun shone and the course was in superb condition for the 72 competitors hopeful of winning one of the many prizes on offer in the president's bogey competition. Bob Gelder's steady play coming in with a score of plus 3 saw him achieve first place and the president's shield with slide rules used to decide second place as Alan Abrams also came in with plus 3, plus 2s were recorded in order of merit by Ian Moore, Jon House, Chris Woolley, last year's winner, and Brian Adams.

Paula Mansfield's zero score took the ladies' top spot with Betty Byrne second and Sue Watters third. Jack Shepherd's plus 7 was best of the juniors and indeed best of the day well ahead of second placed Henry Kirkwood and Shamus Martin who took the minor placings. The target chipping winners were Barbara Abrams, John Bewes and Jack Shepherd. Alan Abrams, George Booth, Brian Toop and Paula Mansfield were nearest the pin winners.

At the conclusion of the day, president, Gordon Dimbleby, expressed himself well satisfied as his fundamental aim was to promote a day of golf to be enjoyed by all the competitors and so it turned out to be, particularly adjacent to the ninth green where each of the players were able to partake of liquid refreshment to raise their spirits, generously provided by St Austell's brewery.