THURLESTONE Golf Club is in safe hands with a former police officer as its new captain and a retired bank manager as his deputy (writes Lincoln Shaw).

Nick Nicholson was a popular choice at the annual meeting, and will take over at the end of the year with David Wadey as his vice captain. Michael Wadey (no relation) will continue as president.

Both new men have proved their capabilities in business. Nick was landlord of the Church House Inn at Churchstow after leaving the Force, while David has organised the annual Rotary golf tournament which has raised many thousands of pounds for charity.

Both are also useful golfers, a point emphasised at the Thurlestone Seniors' Open two days before their election when Nick took the prize for being nearest the pin at the longest par three on the course, the 209-yard 13th.

The tournament was a re-run of the original fixture which had to be abandoned mid-round a few weeks ago after a heavy rain storm flooded the greens with half the field still on the course.

It proved as popular as ever, with 120 golfers from 14 clubs right across the West Country taking part.

It looked for most of the day as if the top prize would stay at Thurlestone after Graham Worrall (playing off 17) had scored 39 points on difficult greens that had only recently been dressed and aerated.

However, David Bromage, a 22-handicap player from Sidmouth, came in with 40 points in one of the very last groups to replace Worrall on the leaderboard.

Wild weather caused the cancellation of the Turton Hart Salver competition on Sunday, and also drastically reduced the field earlier in the week for the ladies' October Stableford and Tregelles Cup competition.

Scoring was difficult and it was no surprise when the main awards went to two members who, because of work commitments, were allowed to play the previous Saturday when conditions were much better.

Yvonne Pike, playing off 22, took the trophy and the Foundation Brooch with 36 points on count back from Sheila George (32), the Division Three winner.

Best score on the main competition day was Midge Henderson (15) with 32 points. Tish Mawford recorded the only two.

RESULTS

Seniors' Open: 1 David Bromage (Sidmouth) 40pts, 2 Graham Worrall, (Thurlestone) 39, 3 Mel Ellison (Torquay) 38, 4 R Jones (Bigbury) 38. Under-70s: 1 P Stuckey (Tiverton) 37, 2 Tim Poyser, (Thurlestone) 37, 3 Tim Mackness (East Devon) 37, 4 Jim Ferris (Churston) 37. Over-70s: 1 A Harford (Torquay) 36, 2 John L Davies (Thurlestone) 36, 3 Lincoln Shaw (Thurlestone) 36, 4 Bill Walsh (Torquay) 34. Nearest the pin: 3rd - David Rowsell, (Dartmouth); 5th - Mel Ellison (Torquay); 6th - Tony Teague (Hele Park); 13th - Nick Nicholson; 17th - J Pascoe (Yelverton).

Ladies' October Stableford (Tregelles Cup): Division One: 1 Midge Henderson 32pts, 2 Sara Harkness 31, 3 Victoria Gibbens 31. Division Two: 1 Yvonne Pike 36. Division Three: 1 Sheila George 36.