STEVE Bradshaw has been appointed as the new captain at the Worcestershire Golf Club.

Bradshaw was welcomed into the role at the annual captain’s dinner, at which the significant achievements of retiring club captain Roger Brierly were recognised.

A resident of the town and a member of the Malvern Wells Club for almost 20 years, Bradshaw says he is enthused by the improvements being made, and is greatly looking forward to the year ahead.

Currently playing off a handicap of seven, he has captained both the A and B teams on numerous occasions, most notably to win the A team inter-club league title in 2012.

Married with an eight-year-old son, and working for a major healthcare provider, Bradshaw has named the Worcester and District Multiple Sclerosis Society as the chosen charity for his year of office.

The captain’s inaugural competition drew a large entry of 132 players in 33 teams of four.

Playing a four-ball alliance, with two scores to count on par four and five holes, and three scores to count on par threes, the field was divided into morning and afternoon shotgun starts, with Bradshaw driving-in between the two rounds.

Winners in the morning round, with 84 Stableford points, were the team of Gerald Bird (handicap 6), Kevin Carter (6), Paul Wakely (10) and Steve Carter (11).

Following them home were Nick Smith (handicap 5), Phil Shurmer (3), Andy Dunster (5) and Andy McClelland (10) on 81 points, ahead of Derry Hanratty (15), Andrew Whiteley (17) Jan Syzmanski (23) and Keith McLoughlin (14).

The afternoon round winners, with the best score of the day, were the team of Andy McCabe (handicap 5), Phil Birch (5), Bill Thomas (12) and Simon Hart (20) with 87 points.

Second were Phil Dance (handicap 4), Marcus Holman (10), Dave Marshall (scratch) and Josh Marshall (8) with 84 points, on countback from Ralph Kelsall (handicap 8), Barry Caswell (8), John Davies (13) and Roger Blackwell (15).

Earlier, the ladies of the Worcestershire played a non-qualifying 18-hole Stableford in poor weather conditions, with players being subjected to high winds and hailstorms.

Joan Herbert did well to return a winning score of 35 points, while Lucy Walton secured second place on countback from Isabel Carmichael on 33, with Jill Exell fourth on 32.