HOLDERS Filey Golf Club have edged into a slender lead after the seventh of nine events in the Scarborough and District Golf Alliance's Winter Pennant Trophy.

Going into the fixture at Scarborough North Cliff, last year's winners Filey shared first place overall with Driffield.

The most benign conditions of the series so far greeted the 126 players, who took part with Scarborough South Cliff prevailing on the day with a four-card total of 263.

Filey's second place, which they shared with Kirkbymoorside on 268, enabled them to open a gap in the overall ratings.

The penultimate round of the Pennant Trophy is at Bridlington GC on Saturday, February 22.

Overall placings (after seven events) are: 1 Filey 1,344 points; 2 Kirkbymoorside 1,349; 3 Driffield 1,351; 4 Scarborough South Cliff 1,356; 5 Malton and Norton 1,359; 6 Whitby 1,363; 7 Scarborough North Cliff 1,366; 8 Flamborough Head 1,373.

The York area's golf clubs have been urged by Sam Torrance, the captain of the victorious European Ryder Cup team to back the Help the Aged Golf Charter championship.

It is the charity's 15th annual tournament for which club captains and secretaries are asked to select which club medal event they would like to nominate for the competition.

The winning man and woman from the nominated club medals then has a chance to play in a regional final with the top two men and women from each going on to the Grand Final on Thursday, October 23 at The Belfry, where Torrance led his Europe team to a memorable Ryder Cup conquest over the Americans last autumn. Further details from Help the Aged, tel 020 7924 1227 or www.helptheaged.org.uk

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, February 15, 2003