THE home pairing of Sally and Andrew Dare saw off all opposition when The Worcestershire Golf Club hosted their first open event of the season.

A good entry for the mixed open greensomes saw players representing clubs from far and wide.

Contested in changeable weather conditions with testing greens, the winners recorded 39 stableford points.

They finished two ahead of nearest rivals Amy Millward and Wayne Boden, of Bewdley's Wharton Park, and Marcia Macfarlane and D Elliott, from Tewkesbury Park, on 37.

Home player Liz Lewis and her son Richard, from Moseley GC, were fourth with 36 on count-back from Tanya and Kevin Welch, of Hagley.

A visitors’ prize was awarded at the Malvern Wells club to Ross-on-Wye pair P and I Caves on 35.

Meanwhile, in-form golfer Tom Howells headed The Worcestershire's April Medal Division One with a nett 68, reducing his playing handicap from four to three.

Second was Richard Sebok (handicap eight) on 70 with Tim Wright (9) third on 72.

In Division Two, Simon Clayson (13) recorded 70 ahead of John Davies (13-71) and David Radley (16-72).

But the best score of the day was delivered by Division Three's Paul Adams, who carded 66 to reduce his playing handicap from 21 to 18.

Following him home were Neil Smillie (23-70) and Andy Wood (19-71).

A smaller entry for the Midweek Medal saw Richard Bird (15) win Division One with 70 nett over John Poulton (10-71).

Mike Baird (23) claimed Division Two with a score of 68 over Peter Jolley (17-71).

In the ladies’ 12-hole Jokers Wild three-ball alliance, Cathy Harris, Hazel Cartledge and Yvonne Cawley took the honours with 63 points.

Players' scores were doubled on joker holes.

Margaret Duncan, Penny Stevenson and Ann Other pipped Kate Foster, Jane Quick and Pam Emery Reynolds for second with both on 60.

In matches, The Worcestershire’s men’s ‘A’ Team erased the previous week’s disappointing display against Droitwich.

They travelled the short distance to Worcester Golf and Country Club to come away with a fine 4-2 win. The result of the day was a win for the unbeaten pairing of Dave Marshall (one handicap) and Steve Carter (11) 3&2.

The strong team of Steve Lane (+2) and Phil Birch (6) took a high-quality match on the last one-up.

Mark Reed (5) and Paul Wakely (9) triumphed on the last one-up with the latter in particular outstanding on the greens.

Captain Andy McCabe (5) and Howells (3) also came through a tough match to win one-up with the last putt of the match.

There were defeats for Richard Sebok (8) and Andy Fleming (12) 3&2 and Brian Kendall (12) and Phil Park (9) 4&3. Maintaining their good form in the Droitwich Inter-club League, a ladies’ team of Jackie Marks, Pauline Belsham, captain Pat Rose, Helen Thomas and Jill Exell won 3-2 at home to Ombersley in wet conditions.

June Jones captained a mostly Silver Division team at Minchinhampton.

Despite fine golf, they succumbed 3½ -1½ to the hosts.

Jill Piner and Vivienne Marsden won their match with Jones and Joyce Duncan halving.