RICHARD Higgs saw off more than 30 other single-figure handicap golfers to lift the prestigious Garnet Scott Memorial Salver at The Worcestershire Golf Club in Malvern Wells.

Playing off a handicap of six, the home player’s nett 69 took him two strokes clear of fellow-member Dave Marshall (handicap 1).

Players from Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire vied for the title, with Tewkesbury Park’s Callum Dawes (4) taking the third slot with nett 72.

Also in the prizes were The Worcestershire’s Jason Allies, Darren Baker from The Vale and home player Tom Howells, who took the Best Gross prize with gross 73.

Course manager Steve Lloyd had presented a suitably challenging but fair course in superb condition.

Visiting teams swept the board in the Ladies’ Open Three-ball Alliance, with Redditch Golf Club’s Jane Freeman, Janice Kerr and Nikki Anslow leading the pack with 79 stableford points.

Close behind were Broadway’s Esther Pettit, Chris Parkinson and Dawn Cannon on 78.

Third place on 77 were Lyn Robinson and Deb Lansham from The Vale, playing with Broadway’s Helen Parry.

Only two players achieved birdies on the par threes – home player Julie Saunders and Jill Millard from The Vale.

Meanwhile, Grace Bowen showed great potential when playing with Andy and Alex Dunster in the club’s Millennium Trophy. Playing off a handicap of 12, the 12-year-old contributed well to the three-ball alliance where each team comprised one junior, one man and one lady.

The trio took the honours with 41 stableford points.

Harry Brimmell, 13, playing with his uncle Will Brimmell and Liz Pool took second place with 39 points, on countback from Bradley Matthews, 14, club captain John Williams and Jenny Musson.

Bowen and Brimmell then further cemented their form by winning for The Worcestershire’s juniors in a match against Malvern College. Josh Marshall also won his encounter to secure a 3:2 victory. Jenny Musson was in form in the Lady Captain’s Salver where she recorded 39 points to win the trophy. Following her home in division two were Pauline Savage on 37 points and Jill Brierly on 36.

Three division one players came home with 33 points, Lucy Walton edging Diane Meakin and Liz Evans into the minor placings.

Marie Willis took the nine-hole competition on countback from Kate Cross, both on 14 points.

In the men’s June Medal, division two’s Nigel Allam (handicap 13) carded a superb nett 64 to record the best round of the day, with Oliver Kitching from division three one stroke behind on nett 65. Division One went to Richard Day (handicap 11) on 70, ahead of Paul Wakely (11) on 71 and David Horn (10) on 72.

Mike Sterry (16) was second in division two on 72, ahead of Gary Eames (13) on 73, whilst RB Rogers (22) posted a good 67 to come second in division three, ahead of Len Coleman (24) on 74.

In club matches, the captain led a Worcestershire side at home to a fitting 3:3 draw against Sapey in the final meeting of the two clubs. The winning pairings were Will Jones and David Flanagan, Mike Hanna and Sam Macleod, and David Turner and Nev Clarke.

The Worcestershire’s Seniors struggled on a very hot day against a strong Ross-on-Wye side to record their first home loss of the season with the score of 5:3.

Winners for Worcestershire were Tony Pawson and Phil Bayliss one up, and Tony Ditchfield and Clive Fox one up. Halved matches came from seniors’ captain Nigel Teale and Colin Lowe, and Robin Marling and Terry Cox.

A mixed team fared no better in their inaugural visit to The Warwickshire.

Playing better-ball format on the Kings Course, they lost 7 ½ : 0 ½ to a home side in outstanding form with Di & Jim Wilde securing a creditable half.