Favour golf competition (5)
I believe the answer is:
grace
'favour' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'golf competition' is the wordplay.
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'competition' becomes 'race' (race is a kind of competition).
'g'+'race'='GRACE'
(Other definitions for grace that I've seen before include "For example, Euphrosyne" , "Elegance - prayer before meal" , "A girl" , "observed before lunch?" , "Charming quality" .)