ANDREW D Smith sizzled to victory on a day of great scoring in Colchester Golf Club's Cystic Fibrosis challenge.

Eight-handicapper Smith held off 102 other competitors to return 40 points and take the honours on countback from unlucky Richard Watts.

Smith’s gross 66 was a model of consistency as he rattled up 15 pars, with bogeys at the first and sixth and a double at seven being his only blemishes.

Watts (13) dropped just four shots on the opening half for 20 points and just five on the back nine, for another 20-point return.

Big-hitting Martin Halls made light of his 19 handicap to snatch third with 39 points – despite blobs on the fourth and 11th holes.

That edged Dan Nicholls (3) into fourth after a superb gross 70 that included birdies at the ninth, 12th and 13th holes.

Next came Richard Hayes (12) and Ernest Van Vredenburch (8) on 38 points with Jason Nicholls (scratch) firing a gross 69, Kris Lee (10) and Stephen Cullis (16) on 37 points.

Red-hot Jamie Scott, playing off seven, took the walk-on stableford with 39 points, edging out Jake Hughes (12) on countback with Ashley Yates (18) third on 34 points.

More than 60 golfers battled it out in the Ladies’ Spring Meeting – enjoying great weather for once after a run of washouts.

Trish Wilson (6) took division one honours with 34 points, helped by birdies at the fifth and ninth holes.

She was one ahead of Maureen Devenish (16) with Vicky Frost (17) a further three behind.

Wilson’s round also gave her the Silver Scratch Cup.

Heather Dennis (21) took the Bronze Scratch Cup and with it the division two honours after notching up 35 points.

That put her one clear of Margaret Carter (22) with Hayley Joel (25) third on 33.

Romany Foster, playing off 30, captured the Bridge Box in division three with 37 points – five clear of Gillian Whittle (28) and Carol Irvine (32).

Afternoon winners were the teams of Wilson, Philippa Deman and Dennis on 41 points with Julie Dicks, Hannah Butcher and Cathy Burchell on 29 points.

The Silver Trophy Team started their 2018 campaign with a resounding 4-1 defeat of Frinton.

Burchell (ten) set the tone by winning 4&3, skipper Jane Reed (11) won by the same score, Judith Robertson (13) coasted to a 6&4 win, Jenny Mitchell (14) lost her ball on the 18th to lose one-down with Maureen Devenish (16) winning 2&1.

Colchester GC's men's Jubilee Cup team hosted in-form Benton Hall and replaced them at the top of the table, after a 7-2 victory.

Singles wins for Mike Akins 4&3, Mick Mayes 3&1, Stuart Fisher 3&2 and Peter Robinson 2&1 gave the home side a 4-2 lead.

Still needing one point from the fourballs, Sam Tarr and Ian Wigston took their match 4&3 to give Colchester the overall win.

Martin Halls and Simon Smith (4&2) and Robin Tucker and Stuart Reed 2 up completed the 7-2 scoreline – taking Colchester to the top on hole difference with two more rounds to play.

Colchester GC Vets followed up their 8-0 thrashing of Harwich and Dovercourt with a narrow loss at Clacton.

Clive Kerr and Peter Anderson halved the opener but wins from David Cairns and Michael Walsh (3&2), Les Daughtrey and Michael Horley (one-up) and John Walkinshaw and Len Nieuwenhuis were not enough to stop the hosts squeezing home, 4.5-3.5.