With strong cross winds blowing for much of the day many of the competitors found it difficult to score well. However, there were a few notable exceptions and Dave Dallaway headed Division One with the lowest gross score on the day of 76, recording an excellent nett 66.

That put him one stroke clear of senior member Bruce Parker, who was himself one clear of former club captain Mike Lightfoot.

Four men returned a nett 70 with Alan Lidgley edging out Adrian Wood, Bill Blundell and Mac Mackillop. Two strokes further back Peter Frost headed five others – David Rowe, Gordon O'Reilly, Derek Purves, junior member Will Davis and Dermott Haughian.

Division Two was won by Peter Cook with a fine nett 68, putting him two strokes clear of Stuart Middleton and Tim Brown. Fourth spot went to Judd O'Connor on countback, who nosed in front of Mike Anthistle and Robin Rowland, all three scoring a nett 71.

In the Ladies' March Medal, Christina Hancock led the way home in Division One with a nett 74, putting her two strokes clear of Hannah Mustow and Kerry Sumner. Youngster Pam Rowett won Division Two by five strokes from Marie Dennis, with Fiona Robb in third place.

Conditions were a little more benign for round three of the Dr Stableford Cup and youngster Tony Lee led home the 54 starters with a commendable 40 points. Barry King was just a point behind, with Des Pye and Jeff Wyatt scoring 37 points. Four others played to par with Paddy McCrossan taking fifth place on countback from junior member Ben Oliver, Steve Charles and the veteran Bob Berry.

In the midweek Stableford conditions were so horrendous that only 10 men entered. Jonathan Carpenter showed true grit to lead them home on 33 points, while Barry King yet again finished in second place.

Carpenter's winter league partner, Frank Hunter, also showed determination to take third spot on countback from Chris Bullin, both men scoring 29 points.

At the weekend the 72 starters in round four of the Dr Stableford Cup found the windy conditions tricky, but Ken Rush was the clear winner with a tremendous 42 points, putting him an impressive four points ahead of Steve Lewis, who edged out the veteran Bruce Parker on countback. Junior member Lewis Garner took fourth place on countback from four others – Stuart Middleton, Chris Wilkes, Philip Ledgar and Andrew Milne – all five scoring 37 points.

With the 2008-09 season not even officially underway, the ladies of Whittlebury Park Golf Club have suffered mixed fortunes in their first matches of the season. Their first round win in the Mail on Sunday competition brought them another home tie for the second round, but they suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stratford Oaks and an exit from this year's competition.

In the Northamptonshire ladies leagues, a 3-0 defeat at home to Silverstone in the scratch league was more than compensated for by a 4-3 victory over Overstone in the first match of their Cecil Leitch trophy campaign.

In a close tie, the deciding match went to the 19th hole with Whittlebury's Janine Button prevailing on the Royal Whittlewood course's intimidating first hole. The other Whittlebury wins came from Sue Colby, Jill Aldous and Ada Parr.

Whittlebury Park's AGM takes place on Friday, March 28 at 7.30pm under the chairmanship of president Peter Harmon.

Bicester Rotary Club is staging a charity golf day on Monday May 19 in aid of the Chiltern and Thames Valley Air Ambulance Trust.

The event is being staged at Bicester Golf & Country Club where the format will be a betterball Stableford competition comprising teams of two.

The cost per player is £40, which will include a coffee and bacon roll on arrival and a buffet lunch following the game. There will also be first, second and third prizes.

Hole sponsors are invited at £25 a hole. For booking, e-mail Derek Sambrook at sambrook@clara.co.uk

For more sports news and results see this week's Advertiser & Review