HENRY WHARTON and Lee Grant proved the perfect pair at the York Union of Golf Clubs' Pike Hills Cup.

Wharton, the former British, European and Commonwealth boxing champ, playing off a handicap of ten, teamed up with two-handicapper Grant and produced a level par gross 72 in the greensomes competition at Scarthingwell Golf Club.

It was the first time that Grant, a stalwart of Union competitions for many years, had come away with a trophy.

With the tournament conditions dictating that the winning pair had to have a combined handicap of not more than 12, early starters Dave Varley and Mark Newton, of York Golf Club, set the early standard.

The duo, off five and four respectively, fired the best round of the day - a gross 71 - but had to settle for one of the nett prizes on offer. Gary Thornton and R Marsden, of Kirkbymoorside, filled the runners-up spot with a gross 73 and third place went to Forest Park's M Rushton and R Baker.

They beat home course specialists Kevin Morrall and Richard Best with a better back nine in their 74 but the latter did have the consolation of picking up the best nett prize.