GEORGE Stratford was gaining a bit of a reputation of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride in the various Seniors competitions at Brean . . . until recently, that is.

First, he tasted success in the Wally Pape Bogey Trophy a couple of weeks back and, a bit like busses, you wait for ages for one and then two come along at once as he swiftly added the May Medal to his growing list of wins.

He was the only player to match his handicap on a breezy day at Brean and won by two shots from the ever-competitive Seniors chairman Wally Pape.

The first round of the Seniors Captains Cup took place in superb weather on Tuesday but the scoring didn’t really match the sunshine as, again, only one player matched his handicap. That man was Colin Roberts who now takes a healthy five shot lead into the second round ahead of the chasing pack which is headed by Roger Phillips after his net 76.

The Senior team were on the road this week as they travelled up the A38 to Tall Pines Golf Club. The hosts were on top form, though, and the Brean team struggled to cope with their excellent scoring which resulted in a 4-2 loss overall.

The Open Fourball Betterball concluded the Open Week for 2012 and produced a very close result. Two pairs returned scores of 41 points and a countback left Chris Payne and Debbie Windmill declared as the winners with a slightly superior back nine over Murray Parsons and Pete Barton. Four more pairs scored 40 points and John Mardon and Tony Groves took third as the best of the quartet.

Brean’s director of golf David Haines got his 2012 West Region Order of Merit season off to a solid start as he posted two sub par rounds in the opening event of the season.

Playing at Oake Manor, near Taunton, Haines carded 69 in each round of the Total Triumph Classic to finish on two under par and in 11th spot in an event won by Ross Jones, of Bath, after his stunning course record breaking second round of 62.

Andrew March also competed in the event but, frustratingly, failed by a single shot to make the halfway cut after his round of 73.