THE Worcestershire’s Phil Dance was pipped to the Midland Senior Amateur Championship hosted by his Malvern Wells club.

Robert Aston from Trentham Park secured victory despite Dance’s knowledge of the tricky greens helping him post 74 gross.

Given a strong field of 90 from more than 50 clubs, he was surprised to find himself still leader in the clubhouse at 5.30pm.

But Aston returned to post a one over par 72 and take the championship with a two-shot cushion over Dance and Charles Banks from Stanton-on-the-Wolds.

A further one shot back were Alex Johnston (Llanymynech) and Craig Pates (Moseley). Aston secured his spot at the top of the Midland Golf Union Senior Order of Merit table with one event left.

Dance’s gross was the best in his age category and aided victory for The Worcestershire in the team championship with club captain Mark Read, who carded 79.

Their combined 153 provided a four-shot victory over Radcliffe-on-Trent’s Peter Higgins (78) and Robin Savage (79).

In club competitions at The Worcestershire, 18 pairs of ladies entered the Daily Mail Foursomes with Lucy Walton and Ali Tuck coming out on top with 35 points.

Runners-up Chris Urry and Pauline Belsham finished on 34, while Diane Meakin and newcomer Geraldine Williams were third on countback with 33 from Pat Rose and Lisa Digings.

Marie Willis won the nine-hole competition on 18 with Pauline Taylor, Kate Cross and Joy Williams all managing 14.

The Worcestershire men’s ‘A’ team won 5-1 in their home opener against Evesham.

Lee Whittall (5 handicap) and Andy Dunster (6) won 6&5, Josh Marshall (5) and Pete Lupino (0) 5&4, Dave Marshall (1) and Steve Carter (10) 4&3, Gerald Bird (6) and Steve Lane (+1) two-up and Phil Birch (6) and Tom Howells (2) 3&1.

The Worcestershire’s ladies won 3-1 at Kidderminster as Anne Garner and Jackie Marks triumphed 3&1, Jill Piner and Chris Goody 3&1 and Di Meakin and Pauline Belsham 5&4.

The ladies’ scratch team fell 3½-1½ at Coventry Finham and the mixed team went down 4½-3½ at Lilley Brook.

Corinne and Nigel Mills, Tina and Ian Jukes and April and Andy Greene all won with a half for John and Geraldine Williams.

The club’s seniors lost 5-3 at Sapey with wins for Les Facer and Stan Jones 2&1, Trevor Simmons and Maurice Moore 4&2 and Dave Wood and Tony Pawson one-up.