THE Worcestershire Golf Club’s A team league campaign got off to a flying start under the new captaincy of Steve Carter.

The squad secured an impressive 4.5 matches to 1.5 home victory over local rivals Worcester Golf and Country Club, winning three matches and halving the other three.

The home side were led out in fine style by club stalwart Gez Bird (handicap 7) and A team debutant Tom Davies (3) to return with a thumping 5&4 victory.

They were followed by the ever-consistent Peter Lupino (scratch) and young talent Josh Marshall (6) who sealed a 2&1 victory with a birdie on the 17th.

The third win was secured by club champion Jason Allies (2) and Paul Wakely (11) one up. Allies was in particularly good form but Wakley held his nerve on the 18th green to secure the match.

The three halved matches were all hard fought affairs. County player Steve Lane (scratch) and last year’s skipper Andy McCabe (4) reached the 18th one up but, conceding a shot at the hole to finish all square.

Tom Howells (1) and Phil Birch (6) were in the same position but lost the last hole to an impressive birdie.

The final match saw Dave Marshall (1) and Steve Carter (9) battle back from two down with three to play to secure a valuable half, Marshall holing the key putt on the 18th.

Meanwhile the club’s B team were obliged to test themselves away at Worcester with the home team winning by four games to two.

The Worcestershire’s winners were Sam Macleod and Chris Hardy, 3&2, and Mike Bothma and Mike Day, 2&1. Peter Basten and Will Jones lost one down, Jim Wilde and Tom Wood lost 4&3, Steve Homes and Keith Hitchcock lost 3&1 and Jerry Hibbert and Pete Jolly also lost 3&1.

In club competitions, the ladies’ nine-hole stableford saw another close result.

Two consistent players, Marie Willis and Kate Cross, headed the field on 17 points, with Willis taking the honours on count-back. Davina Taylor came third on 14.

Elsewhere, Penny Stevenson secured the 12-hole winter eclectic title on count-back from Pat Rose.

The ladies’ ‘Hidden Gem’ three-ball alliance saw a win for the team of Di Meakin, Pam Emery-Reynolds and Isabel Carmichael on count-back from Sue Boardman, Cath Francis and Chris Urry, with both teams on 79 points.

Helen Barnes, Liz Pool and Ursula Pearson shaded third place from Margaret Duncan, Sandra Schofield and Pat Rose, both teams on 77.

The first Veterans’ Stableford of the season produced some sound scoring in all three divisions.

Eleven-handicapper Andy Davis led the field in division one with a score of 38 points, one ahead of Garry Eames (handicap 12) on 37 with Andrew Meredith (8) third on 34.

Division Two was captured by Roger Turner (17) with 37 points, ahead of Stuart Webb (16) on 36 and Mel Stocker (17) on 31.

Mike Hill (handicap18) eased out Phil Bayliss (also18) to take the third division, with both players on 38 points, one ahead of Pat Davis (19) on 37.