Past masters take first step

CHRIS DRABBLE and Dan Housley won the men’s trophy the last time the finals of the Daily Mail Foursomes were held at Marriott St Pierre in 2013.

The Horsley Lodge golfers have won their opening match this year, taking their first steps on the long road back to the Chepstow course, which hosts the showpiece in October.

However there will be no repeat of the 2013 final after Moss Valley golfers Les Waddell and Craig Goodwin, that year’s runners-up, lost their first-round game to Clay’s Graham Davidson- Clarke and Lakis Nuthall.

Elaine Bertram and Patricia Nixon, of Ely City, runners-up in the 2013 women’s final, are looking to go one better this year after a convincing first-round victory.

The 1,500 men’s pairings and 1,600 women’s will be whittled down to a last 16 which will take place at Marriot St Pierre.

For more information and results log on at www.mailgolf.co.uk