COLCHESTER Golf Club’s 31st Invitational Charity Pro-Am followed hard on the heels of the PGA (East) Rose Bowl event.

The day has always been about the St Helena Hospice and over the years the club has been able to contribute over £130,000 to their valuable work.

The winners of the Pro-Am, with a score of 16 under par, two scores counting, was the team of Mike Smith, Lorrie Austin, David Croger with their professional Phil Abbot of John O’Gaunt Golf Club.

Two teams returned 15 under par and after the countback second place was awarded to the team of Vic Pomphrett, Barry Hailey, Helen Tartellin with Mitchell Kierstenson (Penfold Park) as their professional.

Third spot after the countback was Iain Cruickshank, Chris and Jamie Scott with Bishop Stortford’s David Rickwood as their professional. Fourth and fifth places in the competition went to two teams with afternoon tee times and suffered the worst of the very heavy rains. Both teams had thirteen under par scores.

After the countback it was Colin, Ben and Joe Williams along with Jason Levermore (Channels) as their professional who claimed fourth place with Lewis Chambers, Tim Logan, Keith Jacobs and Darren Charlton (Dunstable Downs).

Nearest the pin prizes were for the amateurs Lewis Chambers (8th), Neil Moye (13th) and Tom Rothery on the 16th.

Nearest the pin in two on the tenth hole was Jamie Scott and on the 14th Richard Saville with Stuart Cock taking the longest drive on the 11th.

Paul Bishop took nearest the pin prize in the swing studio with a hole-in-one.

Nearest the pin prizes were also given for the professionals which were won on the fourth by Glynne Harris, on the eighth by Tom Hide with Harris repeating his performance on the 13th. Nearest on the 16th was Stephen Harris.

In the main professional competition it took a course equalling record score of 64 by Ian Ellis, of Great Yarmouth, and Caister to take top spot.

James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) was second with a 65, two shots better than third placed Mark Spooner (Glen Lodge).

Also sharing third place with 67 were the two Colchester professionals Mark Baker and Chris Cutchie.

Sunday’s club competitions did not escape the weekend rain, but in this case all competitors had a taste of the wet conditions.

The Hospice Cup, handicaps 18 and below, was won by Iain Cruickshank. He came out tops after a four-way countback with four players returning 39 points.

Julian Munson (10) was second, Louise Storey (7) third and Stuart Fisher (15) was fourth.

For above 18 handicappers there was the St Helena Bowl.

Mark Joel (25) took first place with 34 points and his wife Hayley (34) took fifth with.

Doreen and Tony Friedlander (27 and 22 handicaps respectively) both returned 31 points with the competition positions being left to a countback.

Mike Pedder, with 30 playing off his 20 handicap, was fourth.