The seniors' eclectic competition remains close right up to the wire. Thirty-eight members were eager to improve their eclectic score and were delighted that the sun was shining on them as they took to the course. Now in March the sun was quick to burn off the early morning frost and with the course in good condition there was every chance of the high scores we have come to expect.

As has been the norm this winter, a score of 40 is needed to be in the reckoning and this week was no exception. Either the standard is improving, the handicaps are too high or the course is getting easier. Whatever the reason, this week's results remain high. Of the 38 out, only two failed to beat 20 points and only 12 failed to reach 30.

Dudley Williams blamed his recent spate of late nights for his poor show, while Owen Monaghan hadn't come down off cloud nine after Liverpool's win over United. JDR was back on the course and his 29 equalled that of David Lamb and put him ahead of Stan Hudson, Newman Vincent, Peter Williams, and Brian Waters.

Newman started in great style, scoring 17 points after seven holes and staying on 17 after nine. On the back nine he gracefully conceded to the course and waved the white flag in surrender. Ken Gouldsbrough would have done the same, but he didn't have a white flag. His 20 on the front nine was matched with a 13 on the way home. Newman scored well, despite the fact he had to send his playing partner back to the first tee for his putter and also push and heave to get the buggy back on track after it became derailed!

Roy Morgan was with Newman and they must have been in a hurry since they forged ahead of the third group by two to three holes. Still, they were not held up by Brian Morgan and company who were ahead of them. In that group, Ron Murphy only managed 13 points on the way out, but more than made up for it with a magnificent 23 on the way home. While he beat Derek Bath, he couldn't match Morgie's 37 points, but even that was not enough to put him in the prize money.

"Whose putter is this?" shouted Hywel Probert as he entered the clubhouse. He had carried it most of the way round the course and failed to find an owner. Starting on the 15th, he and his partners had discovered it as they were about to tee-off on the first. No - it wasn't Newman's, that had already been retrieved. Hywel is still on the course trying to find the owner. His 32 equalled that of Roy Morgan, but he still couldn't beat his mate. Roy's score was better on count-back.

Brian Diment was behind them on 30. His average score was due to the volume of telephone calls he received after his photo appeared in last week's report. He is still being accosted in the supermarket for coaching tips!

Shot of the day is this week attributed to Bob Howse. On the 17th he hit his drive into the trees on the left. His provisional ball landed on the green. He was a bit miffed when Allen Watts found his first ball. He had no option but to play it - so he chipped it out onto the edge of the rough. Confident of reaching the green, he chipped again, this time hitting a clump of grass in front of his ball and watched it rebound further into the rough behind him. He was not amused. He did, however, make 32 points in his round.

Mel Neale was another to have a good back nine. Twenty-two points was one less than Ron's and it put him one behind him on 36.

Two of the newcomers were again in the frame. Roy Gallop was the only player to score a two and that was achieved on the 12th. Jeff Banfield impressed our captain, Stan Hudson, with his 37 but, like Morgie, he was still not in the money.

There were some very familiar names in the top three and they must be fighting it out for the best gross score in the eclectic competition. Martin Neilan breezed in with 39 points, only one behind this week's top dogs. Robin Hagley failed to score on two holes, but made up for it with two birdies to reach 40 points. That score was equalled by Allen Watts, who scored on every hole, and won it with a better back nine of 21 points. Allen was also the winner of last week's bonus ball.

It was a loud 'Ola' from Stan to get everyone's attention. Just back off a week's holiday, he was keen to show what he had learned. He reminded all present that next week was a 15-hole stableford competition with hidden partners, followed by the presentation of this year's results.