TRICKY conditions greeted Bransford seniors when they staged the first of their February stablefords.

The early starters found the greens frozen hard with the competition switched from white to yellow tees and declared a non-qualifier.

But 20-handicapper John Phillips made light of the difficulties to win Division One with 35 points, which was two ahead of Mike Weaver (19 handicap) and George Batty (20) on 33.

Division Two went to Paul Edlin (23) on 34, who was one point in front of John Knowles (24) and Andrew Jarvis (26).

Weather conditions were better for another stableford but rain left the course boggy in areas, while some greens had been slit and sanded as part of an improvement programme.

Division One was led by Roy Williams (19 handicap 38 points), who was one ahead of Bill Bowen (20) and Weaver (17).

Trevor Atkinson (14-36), Rob Blake (15-35) and Peter Appleton (20-34) followed.

In Division Two, a resurgent Martin Saunders (24) triumphed with 38 points.

He was just ahead of John Hadley (28-37), Chris Hall (25-37), Neil Sheldon (22-35) and Malcolm Bradley (26-35).

Mike Davidge (17) consolidated top spot in Division One in the fifth round of the winter stableford league.

He finished with 37, just one ahead of three on 36 with Ferey Ghani (14) runner-up on count-back from Alan Wallcroft (19) and Bowen (21). Ted Buckett (20) totalled 33.

Davidge leads the league by five points with only next month’s final round remaining.

He has 109 points and Bowen 104 with Williams (102) and Weaver (101) following.

Division Two’s fifth round was won by Dave Miller (22) with 41, three ahead of Knowles, who was five in front of Andy Falconer (24) and Jarvis. John Burrow (28) and Edlin both finished with 32.

Edlin is well ahead in the division with 112, while Wallcroft is second on 104 followed by Knowles (103) and Jarvis (102).

Bransford finished third in the four-team seniors’ winter league as Wharton Park led the way.

Hosting the fourth and final leg, the Bewdley club overcame a two-point deficit to see off neighbours Little Lakes with Burlish Park fourth.

Wharton lost just one of their six matches in the final round to amass 10 points and 30 in total.

Lakes scored 28 overall, Bransford, who finished second in the final round at Wharton, 24 and Kidderminster’s Burlish Park 14.

The four teams will meet again for the presentation day and winter championship finale at Bransford on Thursday, March 12.

The finale will be both a team and an individual stableford competition.

BRANSFORD SCORERS Phillips (20) and Williams (19) won against Burlish’s M Hodges (18) and A Rollinson (22) 3&2.

Davidge (17) and A Wood (21) halved against Burlish’s M Taylor (14) and G Aitkin (17).

Wharton’s D Slade (17) and A Barton (20) won against Weaver (19) and Miller (22) 4&3.

Wharton’s B Wellsbury (12) and T Allsop (21) won against Ghani (14) and P Harrison (24) 7&6.

L Dyment (19) and K Jones (22) won against Little Lakes’ P Smith (16) and P Bridgewater (12) one-up.

Blake (15) and Sheldon (22) won against Little Lakes’ J Leigh (8) and C Forrester (17) 5&4.