SIXTY-two teams contested The Vale's first senior men's pairs open of the year.

The better-ball contest involved representatives from 30 clubs.

Scoring was close with victory on 43 stableford points going to B Platt and B Bannister on countback from Tony Hampson and John Scott.

Third and fourth places were also the subject of the countback with Mike Roberts and Brian Bunn edging out D Colwell and K O'Conner on 40.

St Richard's Hospice is the chosen charity of this year's seniors' captain Andy Jinks with over £500 raised from the sale of raffle tickets at the open by Belinda Whitehead and Jill Millard.

Meanwhile, Harvington Golf Society started the 2018 season with a fixture at Fulford Heath but the players endured monsoon conditions.

With the tournament reduced to 18 holes, new member Tony Stanley secured both the Challenge Plate and the Norman Whatmore Trophy with a solid score of 36 points.

Close behind was Warwick Holland with 34 while Fred Fawkes, Fitz Burton and Leigh Canham returned home with the minor prizes.

Harvington Golf Centre held their first competition of the season with the April stableford.

Scoring proved difficult and only Rickey Shillam played to his handicap by posting 36 points.

Second was Trevor Grosvenor with 33 followed by Roy Hope with 32.

Broadway's ladies supported their charity stableford raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The weather was disappointing with heavy showers throughout the morning but all competitors battled on regardless.

Chris Parkinson was the overall winner on the day with 34 points.

Ladies' captain Maggie McDivitt headed up Division One with 32 ahead of Frances Friend with 29.

In Division Two, Esther Pettitt won with 33 from Janet Sandalls with 32.

Donations on the day amounted to £60 for the chosen charity.

The men were then out to compete in the Joe Steward Trophy.

The 45 pairs came out to play in the better-ball contest on a day which began with showers but soon dried up.

Storming into the lead with 42 points were Richard Craig and James Waterhouse ahead of Gary Barnett and Matt Sollis with 41 on countback from both Peter Azizi and Brian Campbell and juniors' captain Scott Davis and Joe Golding.