IT WAS a case of ‘hip, hip, hooray’ for the winner of Ludlow Golf Club’s June Stableford event, who capped his recovery from major surgery with a fine victory.

George Gifford shot a superb score of 39 points to triumph in fine weather on a challenging course just six months after undergoing a major hip operation.

He topped the Division One standings by five points ahead of the pair of Mark Brabazon and Nick Apperley, who shared second place, each with a score of 34 points.

In Division Two, John Davies led the way with 36 points, pipping Alan Reid by a single point, while John Adams won Division Three with a fine score of 37 points, five ahead of John Potts in second place.

Elsewhere at the club, there was an unforgettable moment as a player yet to reach his teenage years recorded a magical hole in one.

Joe Lewis, aged only 11, hit a wood shot off the fourth tee to score an ace on the 151-yard par three while playing a round with his foster father Malcolm Weaver.