KEITH Newnham claimed victory in Colchester Golf Club’s CHAPS Stableford.

Newnham, playing off a six handicap, returned 37 points to take top spot in the first men’s competition of the year.

Mike Morley and Julian Munson – both 10 handicappers also returned 37 pointers toforce a countback.

Newnham’s back nine included a birdie at the par three 13th and a par on the last.

Both Morley and Munson had double bogey finishes, which cost them dearly.

Morley was placed second, with a back nine score of 18 points, and Munson, with 17 on the back nine, taking third.

Mark Hills (17) had 36 points for fourth place from Nigel Ball (21), who also carded 36.

Ralph Charles (18) with 35 took sixth place.

Originally founded in 2000 as a local prostate cancer charity, CHAPS (Colchester Has Active Prostate Support) now aims to be an advocate for all men’s health issues and has been supported by the club for over 12 years.

The competition was well supported with 87 members taking part.

It was not a good weekend for Colchester’s Mail on Sunday teams with both of them going out to local clubs. The men lost 3&2 to Birch Grove and the ladies lost 4&1 away to Lexden Wood.

The ladies played a 14-hole stableford and Margaret Carter (24) was the clear winner with 26 points, three points ahead of Catherine Chick (25) who returned 23.

A point behind her in third place was Linda Freeman (20), closely followed by Julie Dicks (11) on 21 and Hayley Joel (34) on 20.