THE Worcestershire Golf Club’s 2019-20 ladies’ captain Janet Manning-Cox launched her year with the traditional drive-in.

Members bought a peg to place nearest to the predicted completed drives which raised £181 to kickstart Manning-Cox’s charity fundraising for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

The three-ball alliance that followed was won by Cathy Harris, Sue Boardman and Jane Flanagan with 49 points.

June Jones, Denise Codrington and Diane Meakin were second with 48 while Hazel Cartledge, Sandra Schofield and Christine Goody were third on countback with 43.

The ladies’ AGM 12-hole stableford went to Jane Poynder and Harris with 28 points from Joan Herbert and Jill Brierly on 26 and Pauline Savage and Goody on 25.

Outgoing captain Julia Radley revealed £4,000 had been raised for her chosen charity St Richard’s Hospice and she then passed on the role to Manning-Cox while prizes were presented to competition winners.

Nineteen pairs played a mixed better-ball stableford in soggy conditions with seven returning scores better than par.

Paul and Diane Meakin won with 42 points ahead of Chris and Vivienne Price in second and Tim and Jane Sinden in third on 40.

The Worcestershire B team, who reached the semi-finals last year, won 3-0 at home to Wharton Park in the Droitwich Shield preliminary round.

Nick Smith and Andy McCabe fought back to win 2&1 while Phil Birch and Mark Reed triumphed 4&3 and Andy Longley and Jon Wootton 5&4.