The battle for the prestigious Seniors Championship and the Rupert Moore Trophy has begun with some close First Round contests.
Last year's champion, Bill Lester, is safely through after beating Nick Foxwell. Geoff Hallett found the task of giving Mike Lester-Card eleven shots just too much, going down by one hole, while in the same foursome, Bob Smith overcame Medal Secretary, Pete Fitch. Seniors Secretary, Ray Lake, failed to reproduce his recent improved form in going down to Treasurer, Colin Moon, and Competition Secretary, Brian Phelps, also departed, beaten by John Bendle. In other contests, Gerry Rowell beat John Williams, Graham Edgell overcame Vice-Captain, John Appleton, John Ticehurst defeated Chris Ellam, Terry Button had the better of Frank Reeves, fellow Bathonian, Arthur Bellinger, beat Geoff Broadway and Barry Dugmore progressed at the expense of Ken Tucker.
In Round Two, Captain George Underwood will face Malcolm Tucker, Lester-Card will meet Smith, Rowell plays Moon, while in one of the ties of the round, Lester will be challenged by the in-form Allen Cheney. Ticehurst will have his work cut out to tame the Winter League Champion, Edgell, Bendle faces Button, Dugmore meets Bellinger and Mike Ricketts and Geoff Weeks, who both had byes, make up the draw.
After a number of delays, the finalists for the Guerwyn Thomas Trophy have been sorted out. In the first Semi-Final, Graham Edgell and Frank Reeves were behind for much of the round, before eventually beating Bob Smith and Pete Fitch, 2&1. In the Final, they will play Bill Lester and Malcolm Tucker, who beat Ray Lake and Terry Button, 3&1.