Leominster took full advantage of local knowledge to make a flying start in the group matches of the Shropshire & Hereford-shire Handicap League when they beat Cad-more Lodge 6-0 - and 23 holes up - at Ford Bridge.

The other team in this small group is Hereford Municipal and to go forward to the knockout stages as group winners it is important to win home matches well and look for a possible result in the away matches.

In the event of a tie on points, the team to go forward will be decided on matches won, and then holes up.

Results (Leominster names first): Nigel Morris and Gary Fletcher beat M Griffiths and S Noble 5 and 4, Mike Craddock and Rod Davies beat A Botwood and W Hutchison 3 and 2, Adam Davies and John Lilley beat L Caldicott and A O'Hagan 4 and 3, Brendan O'Brien and Roger Barrington beat A Carrington and K Caldicott 4 and 2, Rob Arrowsmith and Mike Boutcher beat T Wood and M Caldicott 4 and 3, Jeremy Lawrence and Rob Ingram beat N May and M Kurkus 3 and 2.

Paul Creasey will no doubt attract the attention of the handicap secretary after firing a fine nett 61 to win division 3 of the April medal.

Results, division 1 (0-12): Ed Jones 76-11-65, 2 Bill Brown 76-10-66, 3 Kevin Gibbons 71-3-68; division 2 (13-18): 1 Wayne Barton 82-15-67, 2 Vincent Fish 82-14-68, 3 Terry Morgan 83-15-68; division 3 (19-28): 1 Paul Creasey 84-23-61, 2 Robert Leney 88-24-64, 3 Wayne Wall 92-25-67.

Pairs stableford (both scores counting): 1 Richard Cattermole and Ray Chambers 64 pts, 2 Simon Morgan and Ben Dytor 64, 3 Andy Merrick and Alan Burke 60.

n There was a close finish to the mid-week medal at Sapey with Keith Leadbetter taking the honours.

Results, division 1: 1 Keith Leadbetter 76-11-65, 2 Jason Gale 77-11-66, 3 Richard Moore 78-11-67; division 2: 1 James Bell 90-24-66, 2 Neil Box 87-20-67, 3 David Parry 86-17-69.

n Hereford Municipal captain Phil Green held off the challenge of Dave Wooles to win the Lombard qualifier and book a place as a partner to club professional Gary Morgan in the regional final. He posted a fine 75-5-70 to beat Wooles, 77-6-71, by a single shot. Terry Robinson finished third on 89-15-74.

Seven-handicapper Paul Jones carded 39 stableford points to win the Hall of Fame qualifying event and will also go forward to the regional final.

Hall of Fame: 1 Paul Jones 39 pts, 2 Dean Samuel 39, 3 Colin Morgan 37, 4 Phil Green 37.

Gareth Hardistry and Shaun Chambers are the winter league pairs champions after beating Rob Pugh and James Marsh in the final.

Senior captain Eric Williams showed that he intends to lead by example after posting 30 points to win the 12-hole yellow ball stableford event. Tony Mills was runner-up with 29, a point clear of third-placed Keith Strangwood.

n High scoring was the order of the day as Herefordshire GC seniors contested the Harry Parkes Cup, a better-ball stableford.

It took a card countback to decide the winners with Mike Morgan and Ray Thomas getting the better of Dick Tubman and Colin King after both pairs posted 46 points. Ted Turner and Arthur Thomas finished third on 45.

Herefordshire GC Winter League champions were Phil Leach - not Paul Leech as reported last week - and Tom Burton.

n Thirty-two players contested the Peter Burge Trophy when Belmont seniors travelled to Ombersley for an away day, Ron Fell taking the trophy with 42 stableford points.

Peter Burge Trophy, overall winner: Ron Fell; division 1 (0-15): 1 John Lewthwaite 39, 2 Peter Smith 36, 3 Geoff Foster 36; division 2 (16-28): 1 Norman Miller 42, 2 Tony Ball 41, 3 Bill Mason 35.

Lancaster Plate: 1 Dennis Pritchard 87-10-77, 2 Alan May 86-8-78, 3 John Lewthwaite 91-12-79.

Dan Morris finished seven points clear of the field when he posted 45 points to win the April stableford. Peter James, 38, took second place on a card countback from Dave Harding.