THE second round of the South West of England Open Winter Foursomes competition was held at Yelverton Golf Club on Sunday with strong winds and rain keeping players on their toes.
Simon Gilder and Rob Gawman (Tavistock) were 4 down with 6 to play, but made a late comeback to win on the 18th against the Bigbury pair of Chris Johnson and Peter Edwards.
Torquay Professional Martin Ruth and his young son David went out of the competition at the first hurdle, losing to Alan Rice (Yelverton) and Geoff Hanns (Launceston) 3 and 2.
Local players Scott Davey, scratch (Yelverton) and Alan Gawman +1 (Tavistock), lost to the club professionals Richard Herring(RND) and Chris Gill (Crediton) 2 down.
The combination of a Yelverton veteran Brian Blaber and junior Shaun Northey proved too much for the pair from China Fleet, Paul Cloke and Andy Michael, winning 2 and 1.
Another local combination of the two members of the senior Service, Karl Eastwood and Mark Taylor, beat their opponents from the Army, Carl Walsh and Douglas Reid 3 and 1, and the father and son team of Terry and Chris Cook proved too strong for the Bigbury pair of Ross Ellard and David Rowell, winning 3 and 2.
The Staddon Heights pair of professional Ian Marshall and young Jamie Easton-Johns went out to the experienced pair of John Gilmor (Yelverton) and Mike Beveridge (Tavistock) 4 and 3.
But the big surprise was the defeat of favourites James Ruth and Kevin Harpe (Tavistock) by the Teign Valley pair of Sue Pearman and Devon PGA Order of Merit winner Barry Austin.
The score was a defeat of 4 and 3, which must make the Teign Valley pair the latest favourites, although previous winners Ashley and Martin Moon are in the same part of the draw, having beaten the Yelverton pair of Andy Price and Clive O?Sullivan also 4 and 3.
The next round is on Sunday November 17.