SETTLE golfers were out in force looking to get their hands on the first silverware of the season.

The John Moore foursomes gives most of the competitors their only opportunity to play this format.

There were some good scores recorded by all the early starters but it was the pairing of Martin Scaife and Brian Hartley who made the most of their generous handicap allowance to quickly move to the top of the leaderboard. They played some solid golf and came home with a three-under-par nett 67.

The much-fancied paring of Les Brown and Craig Dinsdale mounted the most serious challenge in the afternoon but eventually had to content themselves with recording the lowest gross round of the day, an excellent 82.

Unfortunately for them, the vagaries of the handicap system meant they had to settle for the runners-up spot.

In third place, making a welcome return to competitive golf, were John Lassey and Mark Vickery.

The winners will represent Settle next year in the Daily Mail foursomes competition.