It was a case of hanging their heads in shame at the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce's first golf event of the year.

But actually all four men who competed in this team at Easingwold Golf Club had a lot to be proud of...er...all, that is, except one.

And that was Dave Tysall, of promotional gift company Response Marketing of York.

Who better to form a competing team and be a literal driving force than Dave - and not just because he could instantly supply all of Team Tysall with name-tailored shirts and branded caps from his firm in the Fishergate Centre, York.

After all, wasn't he once a professional golfer who taught the game in Tenerife and who even now, after relative lack of practice, has a handicap of six?

It certainly put the Response into - if not on to - his York business team members Mike Lucas of Walsh Lucas, the independent financial advisers, Peter Kay of solicitors Ware & Kay and Paul Docwra of Ashtons estate agents.

But afterwards Dave admitted: "They played well. I played rubbish. I played OK in bits and pieces and finally...I went to bits and pieces!"

So who were the winners of the big event, backed by Response Marketing, Sign*A*Rama, Garbutt and Elliott, York Business Advice and Parcel Force Worldwide?

Congratulations to Harrowell Shaftoe solicitors of Clifton Moor whose team consisting of Brian Copley, Kevin Millar, Melvyn Allison and John Wright edged the opposition with a combined score of 117 points. John also happen to win the "longest drive" accolade.

Close runner up with 115 points was the team representing York Business Advice Centre - Norman Whyte, Tony Bennett, John Guy and Tony Bangle (who took the "nearest the pin" award from Chamber president John Yeomans).

Roland Harris, chief executive of the regional chamber was delighted with the season's start. He said: "We hope that our next event in early September will be just as successful."

Dave said ruefully: "I'll be back..."