ONCE again the ever popular Churston golf Club 'Pro's Day' was a sell out.

Graced with good weather and under the watchful eye of the days starter, Alex 'Tiger' Weekes the field took to the course to challenge the 'Pro'.

There were more bets placed than at your local bookies on cup final day. The essence being can your net score beat the Pro's gross.

After a rather shaky start, six over through seven, the Pro, Rob Butterworth, carded a commendable 6 over, 76.

Said Butterworth: "To be honest, six down through seven got me thinking of the potential embarrassment, so I knuckled down and felt six over was a good result." So did the numerous players that saw their money doubled by beating him!

There were lots of competitions - longest drive, nearest the pin in two and the ever popular 'nearest the gin', not forgetting double your wager by hitting the 17th green.

Winners on the day were: 0-9 Pete Middleton 67-4-63, second went to young Joe Davis, 66-0-66 bb9, third Keith Benton 74-8-66 bb6, fourth Lee Klinkenberg 72-6-66. 10 – 15 handicaps: winner Cliff Bland 76-11-65 bb9, second Andy Farrell 76-10-65 bb9, third, Steve Maris 79-14-65 and fourth Anton Skornia 77-10-67. 16- 24 category: winner Barry Griffiths 82-16-66, second Alan Cooke 83-16-67 bb6, third Alan Baldock 85-18-67 and fourth Lloyd Clayton 90-22-68.

THERE were plenty of smiles in the clubhouse among the ladies at Churston after yesterday's monthly medal round, with a handful of scores under 70 and all, understandably, thinking they were well in with a chance of the top spot.

But that honour went very deservedly to Vicki Harris, who topped a couple of 67s, a 68 and 69, with her quite stunning nett 66, her round a flurry of birdies from start to finish.

Vicki was understandably absolutely overjoyed at a round that is very rarely enjoyed on Churston's fairways, and even more so to at last be able to enjoy the company at the top table of the club's best ladies' players whose handicaps are 18 or under.

She was also awarded an engraved pen for the best nett score of the day, a new award for Churston ladies' monthly medal, replacing an engraved glass.

Her two shot reduction was one of six handicap cuts on a day when everyone on the leaderboard came in at par or better, and the competition standard scratch thus dropped a shot to 72.

The 67s came from Sue Petulengro who won Division Three, and now goes into Division Two thanks to her two shot cut, while, Joy Beal, runner up to Vicki finds herself now playing off 24 instead of 26 - Joy, incidentally the overall winner of this event last year.

It is also held in conjunction with the sought after Ridge and Vets trophies, these awarded next week to the best scores over 36 holes. So those in the frame now have to go out and do it all over again - never an easy task.

In Division One, Jenny Edgington topped the leaderboard on countback from Joan Davis, and despite all this superb scoring only two managed to convert their drives into that precious two on the par 3s, Kimberley Taffinder on the 4th and ladies vice captain Colleen Skornia on the 8th.

Results: Division One - 1, Jenny Edgington 88-17-71 on countback from 2, Joan Davis 82-11-71; 3, Betty Gordon 82-10-72. Division Two - 1, Vicki Harris 86-20-66; 2, Joy Beal 93-26-67; 3, Betty Breed 93-25-68; 4, Jane English 90-21-69. Division Three - 1, Sue Petulengro 95-28-67; 2, Wendy Gorst 102-30-72; 3, Kimberley Taffinder 102-29-73.

HOT and humid weather made for a long round for Churston's juniors in their Medal competition on Sunday.

Their ever increasing numbers ensured a full start sheet including eleven players in the 8 hole Stableford. Owin Wong hit form in this division with 25 points from Tom Plumridge and Luke Tooley on 22 and new member Tommy Keniston finishing fourth with 21 points.

In Division 1 (CONGU – 0-13) Harry Mayers carded the best round of the day, a gross 72 for a nett 66 from Cameron Hurd nett 70 and George Horsham one shot behind on 71. Division 2 ( CONGU – 14+) The girls finished well, with Natia Spencer nett 71 taking first place from James Loosemore also on 71 and Jessie Francis nett 74. Division 3 (non CONGU - red & white tees) Karrie Spencer finished first with a nett 74 (+2) from Jack Fulcher with a nett 73 (+3) and Josh Reilly with a 77.

In the 18 hole Stableford from the black Novice tees, it took a better back nine to decide the winner with Ciaran Ivey taking first place from Emilia Smith in second and Freddie Bate in third all having carded 36 points.

In the Novice Cup it's going to the wire with just one more round to count. Kieran Dart retained first place but saw his lead cut to just six points by Ciaran Ivey in second and Freddie Bate just one point behind Ciaran.