MEMBERS of Yelverton Golf club were privileged to compete for the Ryder Cup last weekend.

Courtesy of John Yeo, club professional at Bude, and captain of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, the cup was made available for display at Yelverton.

The members entered the competition as either European or American golfers, and wore the appropriate colours.

They played in a four-ball matchplay competition, with John Yeo captaining the European side, and club Captain Tim Shobrook captaining the away team.

Eighty players competed, both men, ladies and juniors, with the captain and vice-captain of Bude Golf Club playing as guests. A formal opening and closing ceremony was conducted, with national anthems playing and flags being raised and lowered.

Only two matches went to the 18th, but the competition was played in excellent spirit, with keen rivalry between the sides.

The results of each match were eagerly awaited in the clubhouse, with the USA storming in to an early lead, but Europe pegged them back. With two matches to go it was all square; the penultimate match was won by Caroline Theyer and Jean Murray, representing Europe.

The final match was between John Yeo and his partner, Bude captain George Ward, playing against Yelverton captain Tim Shobrook and professional Tim McSherry.

The match was all square after 15 holes, and nothing could separate the two sides. The match ending all square, to give Europe the trophy 10.5 to 9.5.

All players thoroughly enjoyed their day, and there were many players and family who attended the prize giving ceremony on the lawns outside the Clubhouse.

The Ryder Cup was presented to the captain of the winning team, by the Yelverton captain Tim Shobrook.

l The Emerson Trophy, a competition for players of handicap 7 and below, played off scratch, was also played at Yelverton last weekend.

A 36-hole competition drew competitors from around Devon, and a visitor from Cheshire, played in fine conditions.

The winner was home player Adam Bridgewater with a score of 144, and the runner-up was Richard Ackland from St Mellion with an identical score, but beaten on countback. .