Sylvia Dell won her first major golfing silverware when she claimed Leighton Ladies' Olive Wood Trophy by the narrowest of margins.

The countback scoring system had to be used to separate Sylvia and newcomer Gill Chehade after both finished the event with 40 points….with Sylvia taking top spot courtesy of her better back-nine score against her fellow left-hander. Both had their handicaps pruned by a shot.

On a day of high scoring, there were birdies for Ladies Vice Captain elect Liz Bagshaw (2), Chris Barford, Margaret Sambrook, Barbara Pearce, Lorraine Leaver and Pat Mihill.

Leighton Ladies collected the wooden spoon after being whacked by the men in a rain-soaked annual encounter on Sunday. The Ladies could only register a single pairing victory in a 12-game event which saw the men win by 484 points to 452.

Results were: Trevor Stimpson and Kevin O'Donoghue 44, Joyce Jay and Liz Bagshaw 43; David Jay and Neil Bagshaw 39, Margaret Browning and Jackie Stimpson 36; Stuart Oliver and Chris Chehade 45, Debbie Pollard-Barns and Anne Tilbury 36; Colin Wilson and Peter Barns 38, Lynn Oliver and Gillian Chehade 38; David Hack and Steve Nicholl 42, Lesley Brazier and Avril Simpson 39; Keith Brazier and Tony Simpson 38, Zan Nicholl and Norma Stevens 35; Alex Jones and Eric Osborne 35, Jackie Phelps and Lorraine Leaver 40; Nigel Phelps and George Darbyshire 39, Margaret Osborne and Dorothy Jones 36; Harry Adam and Fintan Donohue 45, Val Berry and Margaret Sambrook 42; Steve Driscoll and Danny Nairne 39, Sandra Bellis and Carmen White 37; Ian Alexander and Keith Cox 42, Jan Buckler and Chris Bateman 36; John Bateman and Simon Long 38, Carol Alexander and Paula Cox 34.

Teacher John Surguy teamed up with John Lockwood (Harpenden) to win Leighton's Men's Invitation day on Saturday, their 44 point haul beating former President Brian Valentine and Bruce Pearce (Whipsnade Park) by a single shot, with Brian Carter and Bernie Mullins (Rochester) a further point adrift. Leighton's Kevin Steed teamed up with Jodie Wilson (Mid-Herts) to win the prize for the best front nine hole Texas scramble score, with Nick Clarke and James Bond (Enmore Park) winning the back-nine award.

Norma Venner hit the highest score in Leighton Ladies stableford competition, with a birdie helping her to a 42 point haul – and a three shot handicap cut. There were birdies also for Lel Brazier, Val Berry, Beryl Wood, Liz Sweetnam (3), Liz Bagshaw, Jan Buckler, Michelle Reddington, and Lynn Oliver.

Leading results were: Silver Division: 1 Gill Ladd, 38pts; 2 Val Berry, 36pts; Bronze "A": 1 Julie Smith, 37pts; 2 Paula Cox, 36pts; Bronze "B": 1 Norma Venner, 42pts; 2 Sue Down, 39pts.

John Ager and Barry Wills topped the table in Leighton's Dennis Jordan Trophy qualifier, their 42 point haul beating Stuart Leslie and Laurie Benson and Ron Pearce and Jeff Wood by a single shot. They, together with Lance Lawes and Bill O'Neill, 39pts; Dave Hanley and Clive Jacques, Tony Horne and Brian Whiting, Robbie John and Paul McKay, John Surguy and Jeff Beasley, all 37 pts; Steve DeNisi and Peter Taylor, 36pts; Chris and David Sweetnam, Brian Dunleavy and Peter Gadsden, Peter Brennan and Colin Wilson, Trevor Stimpson and Andy Wright, 35pts; Simon Long and Andrew Pickering and Chris Caney and Ken Wilson will be joined by defending champions Peter Rowling and Dennis Elliott in the knock-out stages of the competition.

Leighton Buzzard's "B" scratch team is getting in on the winning act, their latest victims being Chalgrave Manor. Peter Rowling and Greg Driscoll returned winning cards and Colin Wilson and Andy Tizzard gained important halves to give Leighton a 3-2 victory.

Leighton's Senior squad match their match against Stowe, going down 4-3. Roy Johnson and David Debell, John Burchell and Peter Jones and Dave Newby and Mike Read won for Leighton with George Bashford and Kevin O'Donoghue halving their match.

Dentist Jaco Craig won the Sandhouse Society Conemarra Cup match at Aspley Guise, his 38 point haul giving him a four shot winning margin over Nigel Watmough, Alan Philpott and John Smith. There were longest drive awards for John Smith and Dan Herron and nearest the pin prizes for Ian Alexander, John Stannard and Alan Philpott (2). The team prize was won by Bill Blackhall, Derek Browning, Ian Alexander and John Stannard.

The Leighton Buzzard club is now accepting applications for playing membership. Golfers requiring details on the range of options available can contact the club manager/ secretary Duncan Mutton on (01525) 244800.