SHAUN Bannister and Jeff Dykins scraped home on countback over the last six holes to win the opening day medal at Turton Golf Club.

It was a repeat of their victory last season but Ray Brookes and Danny Fletcher were kicking themselves after they could only record a quadruple bogey at the third, followed by a double bogey at the sixth, finally losing out by one shot.

Following the drive in of the Captain, Fred Wallace, and Lady Captain, Hilary Hibbert, the greensome medal produced a record field of 36 couples. It was a close run affair between the leading pairings and it all depended on the back nine holes.

Winners Mike Bamping and Jane Bowden managed to play these in level par, while runners-up Chris Carley and new member Denise Vines, despite a brilliant eagle two at the 402 yard 12th, fell away over the last four holes to narrowly head vice-Captain, Nigel Wood, having his first taste of mixed golf and Christine Gobin. who also fell away badly over the closing four holes.

Opening Day Medal (Stanley Southworth Cups): 64 - S V Bannister/J Dykins; M Burtonwood/M Perry; M Mangan/C Threlfall. 65 - R Brookes/D Fletcher; K Cook/J B Holt; R Taylor/ P Whittaker; S Forster/ G Fullarton; C Lynch/E W Pumford. 66 - R A Downie/M J McNeill; S E Gittins/M Hardman; M E Hawkins/L P Horsley.

Mixed Opening Day Greensome: 64.4 - M Bamping/Mrs J Bowden, 65.8 - C R Carley/Mrs D Vine, 66.0 - N P Wood/Mrs C Gobin, 67.2 - S Brawn/Mrs H T Lythgoe, 68.4 - E J Saul/Mrs J Baxter, 69.6 - B Ribchester/Mrs A I Perks, 70.6 - D J O'Kane/Mrs S Dixon.