COLCHESTER Golf Club’s two premier golfers combined to finish overall winners of their annual Turkey Trot.

Ben David and George Whitbread’s morning round of plus one was three holes better than the best round in the morning.

And they finished one clear to win the afternoon event.

The Trukey Trot consisted of two bogey foursomes competitions with shotgun starts.

Ali Hall and Paddy Logan, playing off 13 and 16, won the morning round with their round of minus one.

They pipped John Gili-Ross (21) and Dennis Brown (13) and third-placed duo David Harper (17) and Duncan Stewart (10).

The two pairs behind David and Whitbread finished on minus two and had to be separated on countback. Nearest the pin prizes were awarded on all the par threes.

Mike Akin (fourth), Brown (eighth), Terry Wilson (13th) and Logan (16th) all achieved the feat.

Both rounds were played in ideal winter golf conditions, although frosty greens made early conditions more testing.

The course played long and with receptive greens after the recent rain.

Playing off half their combined handicap of one, David (0) and Whitbread (one) turned after nine holes on plus one. Their second nine was almost perfect foursomes golf. Going one up on the tenth hole, they then pared in to return their two up score. Their only blemish was to use their shot on the 15th to return a nett par on the hole.

Runners-up with a score of plus one were Andrew Smith (seven) and Mike Lapham (12).

The day’s leading ladies Pat Kettle (18) and Philippa Deman (seven) finished third.

Beverley and Neil Parker, from handicaps of 24 and 16, took the best-mixed pairing prize with a score of minus two.

Nearest the pin winners were Tim Rogers on the fourth, Robert Howie on the eighth, Harry Hills the 13th and Mike O’Sullivan on the 16th.

Colchester GC’s veterans played their Christmas stableford, with Jim Bentley (24) underlining his fine form with a return of 38.

He won on countback against Dick Bokenham (ten), after the duo shared 38 points.

In a field of 55 players, Mike Horley’s score of 36 points was enough to secure third place from Roger Moore (11), who had 35 points.