CHRIS Ritson took full advantage of his handicap to win Bransford Golf Club’s November medal in conditions that were once again far from ideal after the past couple of weeks of rainfall.

Playing off 28 he shot a creditable gross round of 94 to finish with a nett 66, a score which left him just one better off than single figure handicapper Dave Lewis (76-9=67).

Other leading scores were Andy Kennedy 78-11=67, Stuart Freeman-Taylor 86-17=69, Will Ritson 100-31=69, Mark Tipton 80-9=71 and Darren Jones 86-15=71.

The seniors’ medal was called off.

Not only were parts of the course swamped by more rainfall but thick early-morning mist delayed any possible start and eventually after more than two hours of delay and patiently waiting the event was abandoned.

Roger Steade and Leigh Thomas secured top spot in the seniors' benefit competition which was played to a Texas scramble-style stableford format with a little twist.

Partners swapped drives for their second shots and then one ball was chosen to complete the hole.

Steade and Thomas finished on a score of 42 which was matched by Neil Holbrow and Dave Lindsay but they lost out on a card countback.

Two other pairs finished on 41 in Gerry Rebbeck and Jeff Carlisle and Mike Weaver and John Knowles while the pairings of Lee Dyment and Di Leadbetter and June Atkinson and Annie Hayden both had 40.

Having finished last when they hosted the finals day in the four-club winter league which completed the delayed 2018-19 tournament, Bransford fared much better when they staged the opening round of the 2019-20 competition.

This time they managed to claim second spot, finishing just a point in arrears of The Staffordshire who won one of the four legs for the first time.

Bransford's Trevor Atkinson and Alan Ford won 3&2 against Little Lakes, Phil Spencer and Les Clarke triumphed 3&2 over The Staffordshire and Mike Davidge and Neil Sheldon halved with Wharton Park.

Mike Weaver and Alan Wallcroft won one-up against Little Lakes, Ferey Ghani and Harry Godwin lost 3&1 to The Staffordshire and John Phillips and Gordon White fell 2&1 to Wharton Park.