Craig Shave heads the County Alliance professional order of merit at the halfway stage of the season.

The Whetstone club player has amassed 45.5 points in a highly-successful campaign so far, which restarts shortly at Park Hill, for which bookings open today.

Shave is the 2009 PGA Midland order of merit champion and is well on his way to retaining the title.

Before the traditional midwinter break, he had outright wins at Cosby and Melton Mowbray, plus a tie for first place.

He also has three second places, one tied, to his credit.

Clive Fromant (CF Golf Academy), with 34.5 points, is currently second, with Ian Lyner (The Leicestershire) third on 32 points.

They are followed by Bob Larratt (Kibworth) 25; Ollie Johnson (Charnwood Golf Centre) 21.5; Kieran Thomas (Ullesthorpe Court) 18.

In the amateurs' order of merit, Jamie Voss (Western Park) leads the way with 38 points from John Hardwick (Rothley Park) 26.

Neil Clapham (Western Park) has 22, and there is a four-way tie on 18 points for fourth between Owen Cook (Melton Mowbray), David Bates, David Richie (both Kirby Muxloe) and Graham Adani (Lingdale).

There is still a long way to go. The Park Hill tournament next Thursday is the first of 15 events culminating with a 36-hole championship meeting towards the end of April at Hinckley GC.

Alliance secretary Alan Greenhill can be contacted for more information and bookings on 07808 886962.

Forest Hill have been nominated in the national GolfMark Club of the Year 2009 awards by the Leicestershire and Rutland County Partnership.

The club is one of only a handful in the county to be awarded GolfMark, achieving it last year. Others, however, are working towards this status.

Peter Thorpe (Whetstone), the county golf partnership development officer, said: "GolfMark status is crucial from this year onwards in relation to funding for clubs throughout the county.

"This is one of the important aspects of my post and I am extremely keen to help any interested clubs."

Richard Hoskin and Neil Halliday edged a senior batter-ball Stapleford competition at Market Harborough.

They were one of four pairs to finish on 39 points but won on local rule from George Atkins and John Grass.

Percy May and John O'Connor were third and Ken Rutland and Robin Timms fourth.

Nearest the pin awards went to John Halden (at the sixth), Maurice Tipping (eighth), Dave Simons (12th) and Malcolm Tomlinson (17th).

Two of the five-round winter eclectics have been completed and Mike Banks is the current leader.