SEASONAL cheer and severe frost played a part in how the Texas scramble unfolded at Ravenmeadow and Perdiswell Park.

Eleven teams braved the cold but sunny weather and took on the trying course conditions in Worcester with rock-solid ground and annoying but not unexpected winter greens.

Low scores were expected in the team event with winning margins predicted to also be tight.

The first to take to the tees, comprising Ron Law, Roger Jones, Dave Phillips and Luke Gibbs, played off a team handicap of 6.6 and won with 57.4 nett.

Thirteen pars and five birdies on the sixth, eighth, 10th, 12th and 18th holes set a tough and ultimately unbeatable target.

Finishing second with 58.5 was the team of Phil Rowland, Jane Rowland, Julian Bateman and Duane Parsons.

Playing off 8.5, they dropped in 14 pars, three birdies and just slipped up on the 16th hole when they dropped a shot with their only bogey.

Playing off 4.4 and considered by many to be the dream team on the day, Jamie Newton, Steve Griffiths, Adrian Day and Mark Purser finished third with 58.6 off 4.4 on count-back.

Ten pars and seven birdies would have looked good on the card but a single bogey on the seventh hole cost them one place.

Tied on 58.6 off 6.4 were Bob Henry, Brian Price, Sue Price and Paul Woodward.

Ten pars and six birdies took them onto the podium but two bogies on the way out proved costly and they had to settle for fourth.

Thirty-eight players contested the New Year’s Eve stableford at Ravenmeadow and Perdiswell Park which was won convincingly by 24-handicapper Mario Leo with 40 points. 

Even though Leo dropped in just three pars, he scored on every hole and held on to win by just one, reducing his handicap to 23.

Barry Warner, playing off 18, took second with 39 after six pars took him to within touching distance but he dropped shots on the seventh hole.

Ed Nicklin (14 handicap) brought home 38 to take third with nine pars after failing to score on the third.

Steve Baylis (7) came fourth after finishing tied with Norman Vernalls and Jan Schutte on 37 before taking the place on count-back with 20 on the back nine.

Ten pars and a birdie on the sixth got him up with the leaders but minor lapses on four holes took their toll.