HOLSWORTHY’S Golf Seniors section began their North Devon League Division Two campaign with a trip to Saunton’s tricky West Course, writes Les Harding.

The competition format comprised of seven players from each club playing in Stableford singles matches with the best five scores from seven count.

Competing against the four other clubs in the league, Portmore, Mortehoe and Woolacombe, Bude and Saunton, they battled to secure second place behind the home team.

Next up was a trip to their nearest rivals Bude, another difficult links course, where, against the odds won the day by 20 points to move joint top of the division.

On to Mortehoe next which resulted in a disappointing four place, before visiting Portmore where, in a close match, they secured another second place behind the home team.

The final leg, at home, saw three teams separated by just four points. Holsworthy won the day with the biggest points tally of the season, meaning a tie for first place between Holsworthy and Saunton.

Total Stableford points scored in all matches decided the fate and saw Holsworthy win by a mere nine points to secure the division.

Finals Day at Portmore saw all teams in both divisions taking part, with the overall final between Holsworthy and Libbaton, Division One winners, taking centre stage. In wet conditions, the consistent Holsworthy team ran out winners by an impressive 26 points to win the North Devon Cup.

This now set up the Devon Final to be played over two legs, home and away, against the South Devon League winners, Stover, who were the reigning Devon Champions and worthy favourites having won last year’s inaugural competition.

The first leg at Holsworthy on October 3 was cut short due to adverse weather conditions.

The rearranged match took place three weeks later, with the weather being much kinder. And so, the two teams went into battle for a second time.

The format for the final followed the South Devon League rules, twelve players in each team, playing a Stableford Four BBB pairs game, with the best five scores out of the six pairs to count.

Holsworthy took full advantage of the home leg with four pairs scoring 40 plus points and overall, Holsworthy ran out impressive winners by 22 points. A big lead indeed, but Stover had overcome a similar deficit in last year’s final and turned it around, so Holsworthy weren't celebrating just yet.

The return leg at Stover took place the following week in wet and windy conditions. Similar to last year’s final, Stover started well in all games and began to build a lead. However, Holsworthy battled hard in all matches and it was coming down to the wire as the matches concluded.

With all games finished and all scores added up, the two teams eagerly awaited the outcome. Stover had indeed taken advantage of their home leg and won the day, but, to the delight of Holsworthy, had only won by 17 points meaning Holsworthy were overall winners by five points and winners of the Devon Seniors Champions Cup.

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