BASINGSTOKE Golf Club's Andy Palmer finished in a share of third place at the Hampshire Seniors County Championship.

A number of golfers from the north of the county made the trip down to Royal Winchester Golf Club for last month's championship, which was played over 27 holes.

Stoneham's Alan Mew won the tournament, beating Royal Jersey's Trevor Gray in a play-off after both had finished with five-over-par totals of 113.

Palmer was three shots behind on 116 (+8). The three handicapper was two strokes behind leader Mew after 18 holes, carding a five-over-par round of 77, before shooting 39 (+3) on the closing nine holes.

Sandford Springs' Brian Davis, who plays off three, was a shot further back, carding 78 (+6) for the first 18 holes and 39 (+3) in the second round.

Another Basingstoke golfer, four handicapper Peter Scott, ended up in a tie for ninth place on +11. He shot a disappointing 81 (+9) for the first 18 holes, but recovered well on the last nine, moving up the leaderboard with a two-over-par score of 38.

Bishopswood Golf Club's Kevin Fleet was a stroke further back in 12th after rounds of 81 (+9) and 39 (+3).

Gerry Penfold of Sandford Springs was in contention for the title after an opening round of 76 (+4), but a second round of 45 (+9) meant he had to settle for a share of 14th place on +13.

Basingstoke's Oscar O'Herlihy was also left to rue a bad second round. Like Penfold, he was near the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes, shooting 77 (+5), but he also struggled late on, shooting 44 (+8) in the afternoon to finish on +13.

Weybrook Park's John Bridgen finished tied for 22nd on +16, while Hartley Wintney's Alun Lamerton earned a share of 36th on +21.