Geoff Barlow made it a golden double when he won the 70 Plus title for the second year running at the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Senior Championships.

Geoff BarlowThe six-handicap member of Frilford Heath fired a 36-hole total of 172 over the long Castle Royle course, near Wokingham, to finish three shots clear of his nearest 70-plus rival.

Last year, Barlow, who is aged 71, captured the age-group title when the tournament was held at Henley.

"I played much better then than this year," said the retired Oxfordshire County Council planning official from Abingdon.

After shooting rounds of 84 and 88, Barlow said: "I would normally expect to be about ten shots better."

Barlow, who did not take up the game until he was in his mid-forties after he stopped playing cricket, admits he is now playing the best golf of his life.

"I'm lucky. I'm a good ball-player and have kept fit," said Barlow, who has never been lower than a five handicap.

The best-placed Oxfordshire golfer in the Seniors Championship was Huntercombe's Mark Dixon, who finished sixth overall, with a total of 155, six behind winner Duncan Forbes, from Sonning.

Dixon was actually in second place after his first round 75.

Frilford Heath's Hamish Ewing, who plays off nine, came second in the handicap competiton with a nett total of 144.

More than 100 golfers, over the age of 55, competed in the tournament, over the 6,800-yard long course long

RESULTS

Senior Championship: 1 D Forbes (Sonning) 75+74=149, 2 D Lane (Goring & Streatley) 77+74=151(cb), 3 A Parsons (Denham) 76+75 =151.

Leading Oxfordshire scores: M Dixon (Huntercombe) 75+80=155, I McDougall (Frilford Heath) 80+81=161, H Ewing (Frilford Heath) 84+78=162, P Huntley (Frilford Heath) 86+77=163, I Disney (Frilford Heath) 85+79=164, J Evans (Chipping Norton) 82+85=167, P Matthew (Oxford City) 82+85=167, G Barlow (Frilford Heath) 84+88=172, R Evans (Frilford Heath) 85+87=172.

Age group winners - 55-59: A Parsons (Denham) 76+75=151. 60-64: D Forbes (Sonning) 75+74=149. 65-69: B Berney (Gerrards Cross) 77+82=159. 70-plus: G Barlow (Frilford Heath) 84+88=172.

Handicap: 1 A Wright (Goring & Streatley) 73+68 =141, 2 H Ewing (Frilford Heath) 75+69=144, 3 I Mitchell (Donnington Valley) 73+72=145 (cb).