THE Worcestershire hosted a prestigious 36-hole open pairs competition in Malvern Wells.

Golfers took on 18 holes of better-ball followed by 18 of foursomes, both in medal play, for the Coronation Cup.

The scoring was tight at the top with the visiting pair of Craig Murphy and Andy Margarett, from Warwickshire club Stonebridge, lifting the trophy with 138.5 nett.

They won on count-back from The Worcestershire’s Jason Allies and Lee Whittal.

Third were Graham Bilsland and Bill Ball, also from Stonebridge, with 140 on count-back from home players Andy Dunster and Phil Birch.

The visitors’ prize was won by S Band and S Sussex, of Worcester Golf and Country Club, with 146.5. Securing the best gross prize was equally difficult with G Wallace and A Lammas, of nearby Bransford, just easing out The Worcestershire pair of Mark Read and Tom Howells, both on 147.

Nick Smith and Phil Shurmer took the accolade for the best morning round with a nett better-ball score of 65.

The afternoon foursomes winners were C Webb and D Stephens on 74.5.

In the ladies’ Tuesday EG Medal, the Silver Division’s Pat Rose took the honours with nett 72 on count-back from Cathy Harris with Di Wilde third on 74.

Veronica Shaw continued her good form to lead the Bronze Division with 76 on count-back from Lisa Digings and Anne Garner.

Jenny Jones won the Copper Division with 77.

Lucy Walton returned 72 to win the Sunday medal together with the LGU Breakthrough Brooch, which was awarded to the player returning the best nett score in a stroke-play competition in September.

In matches, a ladies team defeated visitors from Broadway 3-1.

With all games closely contested, the successful pairings were Pam Emery-Reynolds with Vivienne Marsden, Anne Garner with Jill Mico and Joyce Duncan with Brenda Lowe.

Captain Vanessa Chesterton and Liz Pool lost their encounter on the 18th hole.