IT WAS a pleasure for Dartmouth GC to welcome Michelle Clark from the Hearts Together charity this week, reports Chris Mushens.

Providing accommodation and wraparound support services to patients, carers and relatives, it was the chosen charity of the 2024 captaincy trio, Rob Isaacs-Berry, Chris Mayer and Dave Sparks. A cheque for £2598 was presented to Michelle on behalf of the members at Dartmouth.

Dartmouth ladies’ Glendevon Trophy was greeted with a mix of loathing and resignation as it took on the punishing bogey/par format.

Shelley Durrans was the steadiest, falling behind on only two holes before reestablishing pars and birdies to finish the day on plus two.

Chris Mayer came next at -1, with Jan Cousins rounding out the podium at -3. All still to play for in the second round later in the year.

Robin Steer topped Division One in the first midweek men’s medal of the season, scoring 73, two better than Howard Clark. Division Two was led by Paul Durrant (67) and then Kevin Hoare (71).

Onto Saturday’s mixed Stableford, which started in drizzle, but ever-improving conditions were the reward for those who braved the wet.

Gary Bonser is breaking in new clubs and surprised himself in beating Dave Nicholls, on countback, to Division One glory.

Steve Tozer had the round of the day, finding the sweet spot in Division Two, scoring 41 points to come out on top. Nigel Osborne was next on 39pts.

The county inter-club competitions also began at the weekend. At Sidmouth, the Dartmoor League team played well to manage to take two of the five matches on the quirky course. The ladies weren’t as fortunate but, in spite of losing some team members to illness and injury, still managed to pick up 1.5.