THE first qualifying medal of the new playing season at Evesham Golf Club involved 27 ladies in a challenging competition.

The wind blew strongly at times and the temperature was quite chilly but the green’s staff did a grand job trying to get the course ready.

Division One's winner was Lesley Curnock with a score of 79 nett ahead of Joan Hunt with 82.

Division Two went to Sally Deakin with 82 on countback from Jill Cleary.

Ladies' captain Eunice Allen took Division Three with 79 ahead of Dinah Wood on 80.

Bright spring sunshine greeted Evesham men's section for a medal competition that doubled as a qualifier for the Le Duc D'Orleans Cup.

Scoring reflected the challenging conditions with a strong wind making life difficult.

Division One was won with 68 by Gavin Griffiths whose handicap was cut by two shots to seven.

Paul Callaghan scored 73 to pip his brother Mike who shot 75.

Division Two was won by John Vaughan with 68 and his handicap took a two-shot reduction to 15.

Peter Clarke followed with 70 and Neil Arthurs got 74.

The top eight in the field qualify for the knockout stages for the main board competition in a match-play format over 36 holes in July.