A PAIR of amateur golfers from Malvern Wells’ The Worcestershire club just missed out on an expenses-paid trip to Morocco.

Andrew McCabe and Paul Wakeley scored 40 points to finish tied fourth at the Morocco Matchplay UK southern regional final at Woodbury Park, Devon.

They missed out on a trip to the grand final in Marrakech by just one position.

Financial adviser McCabe, 45, is a four-handicapper from Malvern and 48-year-old tiler and The Worcestershire club-mate Wakeley, of Inkberrow, plays off 10.

In total, 32 golfers from the two regional finals will enjoy the trip.

Meanwhile, Dave Higgins and Mark New stormed to victory in the Forrest Haye Challenge Cups at Evesham.

Recording 62, the duo secured their inaugural victory in their first year as members.

Played as a pairs better-ball, a field of 33 pairs lined up on an autumnal October day and the scoring was excellent with over half the field bettering the par of 72.

The winners were two shots clear with Ken Hunt and Ron Smith second on 64 to pip John Richards and Chris Jewkes on count-back. Fourth on 65 were Dan Richings and Phil Batchelor.

Evesham ladies held a three-ball alliance open.

Fourteen teams of three players, including competitors from other clubs, went out on a typical autumn day.

Jenny Masser organised the open, which raised money for the lady captain’s charity Sight Concern Worcestershire.

First were Debbie Spencer, Gill Winstanley and Beverley Coleman from The Warwickshire with 83 points. Second was the Ladbrook Park team with 76 followed by an Evesham group with 73.

Other prizes were presented for best front and back nine holes, longest drive and nearest the pin.

Twenty ladies teamed up in pairs to play in the Daily Mail Foursomes.

Mel Evans and Ruth Masters won with 75.5 points and progressed to the next round.

A nine-hole competition was claimed by Audrey Tomkins and Gillian Spencer.

Geoff Wilson and Peter Burley scored 48 points to win The Vale seniors’ fourball better-ball on count-back.

Mick Heard and Tony Perfect were second with 48 as 71 members braved damp conditions.

John Milward and Ron Andrews finished third on 45.

Seventy-eight players set out to play in a friendly fourball match-play competition on a glorious early autumn morning.

The second captain’s away day was on home territory at Bishampton with a modified cross-country course using The Vale’s lakes to good effect.

The inter-club season ended with home and away fixtures against Bromsgrove.

A 5½-½ defeat at Bromsgrove with the pairing of Millward and Ken Hickman securing the half point was followed by a 3-3 draw at Bishampton.

Brian Bunn and Ray Jakeman won 2&1, Andy Jinks and Milward 2&1 and vice-captain Derek Lambert and Jim Rushworth 6&5.

Overall, the season ended with slightly more defeats than victories but the 60 to 70 who represented The Vale showed the strength in depth of their seniors section.