STUDLEY Wood and The Oxfordshire are both champions of Section 2 of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes Golf League - that's the ruling the league reached at a special meeting on Monday.

Both clubs finished their Division 2 campaign on the same points and with an identical points difference, and both beat each other by the same scoreline.

League founder and secretary, Vince O'Loughlin, said: "This has never happened before in the 20 years of the league.

"Because there was no rule in place to deal with this situation, we felt it would be unfair to introduce one after the event had happened."

Studley Wood skipper Mike Siggers had called for a play-off to decide the title, but O'Loughlin said: "It would have been too difficult at this time of the year as lots of courses are using temporary greens."

However, Studley Wood should have won it at the end of November in their last match against Lyneham, but their season ended on a bum note. Siggers's drive struck his partner, Joe Fathers, on the backside on the last hole and that meant Studley forfeited the hole and halved their match.

Meanwhile, fledgling Buckinghamshire club Magnolia Park have joined the league.

They are going into Section 3 to replace Badgemore Park, who have moved into the Berkshire League.

The way the Foursomes League is being run has also been changed after O'Loughlin decided to step down as secretary. A committee of six members, two from each section, will run the show next year.

The league's presentation evening takes place on February 25 at the Masonic Hall in Banbury Road, Oxford.

Story date: Thursday 23 December

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