Five Lakes Golf Club FIVE Lakes held the annual Eddie Curtis Memorial Trophy on Sunday July 20.

This men's pairs open competition, played over 36 holes, assembles golfers from Colchester, Clacton, Chelmsford, Ipswich and many other golf clubs in the area.

Forty-four teams took part, playing greensomes in the morning round and betterball in afternoon, with the longest drive and nearest-the-pin prizes to be secured.

The morning greensomes saw Andy Shakespear and Adam Morris from Five Lakes in third position with 37 stableford points. Second, beaten on countback, were former captains Mike Kettle and Ross Digby with 39 points. Winning the mornings event were Derek Pritchard of Stoke by Nayland, partnered by Karl Cansdale of Lexden Wood, also with 39 points.

The afternoon betterball saw locals Simon Boon and Matt Sommerville securing third spot with 41 points. Second place went to Chelmsford Golf Club's Gary Fisher and Mark Norton with 42 points and thebetterball competition winners were Malcolm Pook of Five lakes and David Lysandroy of Benton Hall, also with 42 points.

The overall prizes were all taken by Five Lakes pairings - local knowledge and experience of the breezy conditions counted.

In third spot were Mike Taylor and Roger Springall with 78 points, second Danny Murtagh and John Grant with 79 points, and this year's holders of the coveted Eddie Curtis Trophy were Dave Rogers and Chris Hamblion, with 80 points.

Nearest the pin was won by Bob Brown of Five Lakes and the longest drive came from Gary Fisher of Chelmsford Golf Club.

The ladies' section at Five Lakes were also celebrating a rare hole-in-one by longtime member Marion Bermingham, who managed an ace on the tenth par 3 hole during the recent Manifold Trophy competition.

The previous weekend, Five Lakes held the Carter Cup in testing conditions over the Lakes course. Nearly 80 male members took part, the stroke play medal format leading to to some high-scoring.

Only two players managed par or better and four of Five Lakes Thornton Cup team carded net 74s - Jamie Jones (0), Jeff Hopkins (5), Dan Carrol (1) and Will Boniface (0). Fourth spot went to Adam Morris (1) with net 73. However the spoils and scratch prize were taken by Andrew Shakespear (0), also with a net 73.

This year's winner of the Carter Cup, though, was junior captain Ben Jones (5) with an outstanding net 71. Ben will now play off his new handicap of 4.

The Five Lakes Curry Cup team were also congratulated at the Carter Cup prizegiving by captain Chris Southgate who, along with other members of the team, celebrated their resounding win over local rivals Colchester Golf Club 16-2. This leaves Five Lakes in a strong position, having also won away at Three Rivers Golf Club earlier.

l THE Five Lakes Vets Section, meanwhile, playing a number of events last week.

In the Three-Ball 6x6x6 Stableford competition, played on the Lakes course, the results were as follows: 1 John Saunders, Alan Povah and Ron Dent, 82 points; 2 Clive Jenner, Peter Bourner and Barry Painter, 80 points (on count back); 3 Mike Martin, John Grant and Paul Raymond, 80 points; 4 Kingsley Abbs, John Knight and Brian Johnson, 79 points.

In the nearest the pin competition, Kingsley Abbs came out ahead on the fourth hole and Tony Bermingham topped the board for the 16th hold.

In the Birdie 2s Competition, Brian Johnson and Tony Bermingham did best at the 16th hole.

MALDON Golf Club Maldon Golf Club held its premier singles competition - a scratch competition for the Walter James Putter - over the two weeks of July 13 and 20.

It was an exciting climax, with the result decided on a sudden-death play-off. Stuart Reece-Ford, 79 and 72, and Dan Skriabin, 74 and 77, both carded total scores of 151, with Stuart winning on the third extra hole.

In third place was Dan Hazell, 77 and 75, with a total of 152.

The second division was won by Chris Purkiss with a total of 170, 85 and 85, and the third division by Garth Milford, 92 and 89, for a total of 181.

Forrester Park Golf Club John Price's captains day was played in changeable weather. However, it was lucky to miss the local storm which affected Maldon.

The excellent prize table attracted more than 100 entrants for the 27-hole competition.

Steve Austwick took first prize with 61 points, just beating Dennis Cornwall by one point, with Dave Crowe two points behind Dennis in third place.

The morning 18-hole competition was won by Mike Parsons, who scored 40 points, with Carl miles second on 39.

The afternoon nine-hole competition from the first tee was won by Richard Bennett and the best of the players on the back nine holes was Peter Waknell.

Nearest the pins were won by matt Avent, Richard Pullin, Robert Goodwin, Steve Young and Dick Jowers. Neil Pickering drove a prodigious length to win the longest drive prize.

The ladies' nine-hole competition was won by Chris Myers from Jan Collier, with Barbara Luxford taking the nearest the pin prize.

The ladies and the vets played for their respective Anniversary Plates. The ladies winner was Diana Ketley with 42 points, with Hilda Hazell second on 39 points, beating Irene Hoffman on countback.

The vets' plate winner was Ken Hanson with 45 points. Alan Troman was in second place with 41 points, just holding off Roland Hughes on countback.

The Anniversary Plate prizes for both golf and tennis are being presented at the annual proprietor's cheese and wine party.

Burnham-on-Crouch golf club Sunday July 13 saw two firsts at Burnham-on-Crouch Golf Club - 96 visitors playing in the mixed open and there was no wind!

The good weather brought out some excellent scores in the 4 Ball Better Ball competition, even though they were playing off a three-quarter handicap. First were J and C Richings from Chelmsford with a magnificent 46 points. Second were R and J Ratcliff from Gosfield Lake and Saffron Walden, with 45 points.

All the visitors were very complimentary about the course and the management of the whole event. Well done, Paul and Avis Greenaway and their team of helpers!

Friday July 18 was the Captains' Charity Team Event. Fourteen teams entered and played in good weather, although the wind was back to normal.

The format was all players to count on the par-threes, three to count on the par fours and two on the par fives.

The winning team on countback with 124 points comprised over-55s' Alan Glass, Kevin Church, Mick Clark and John Culff. In second were "The Real Deal" Bob Brookes, John Barker, Wain Leung and Ricki Blake.

An interesting moneyraiser was Beat the Pro on the par-three 15th.

For £5, Ken Light drove to the green.

If you got inside him or landed on the green, ball prizes were handed out. £182 was raised by Ken, who lost to just four players.

In total, more than £1,000 was raised for the Captain's charity - and the money for the new pond on the 18th is getting closer to the target.

2:05am Friday 25th July 2008

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