MARK Gratty secured a hole in one as Stoke by Nayland Golf Club claimed an exciting 8-7 win over visitors Boyce Hill in the Leslie F Wood Trophy.

The foursomes were exciting and Boyce Hill secured an early 3-2 lead.

But the highlight of the morning was Gratty’s milestone on the difficult 200-yard 13th hole, on the Constable course.

The afternoon singles were tight, with many matches all square at the turn.

But the home team ended 6-4 up in the afternoon, with the last two matches being halved and registered a narrow win.

The Jubilee Cup fixture against Chigwell was a victim to the weather as their course was closed and the points were therefore halved.

Ladies Results: Rita Blewitt Trophy Silver Division overall winner – Anne Hemmings 31 points; 2 Jo Little 30 points ocb, 3 Joan Landen 30 points.

Bronze division: 1 Roz Clements 29 points ocb, 2 Elaine Davidson 29 points, 3 Susan Swan 27 points.

More than 25 ladies took part in Stoke by Nayland’s Lady Vets Captain’s Day 18 holes greensomes.

The winners were Barbara Jones and Lesley Hitchcock, ahead of runners-up Maryan Griffiths and Anne Hemmings.

Jo Hartshorne and Gill Jones won the nine-hole competition.

Lady Vets vice-captain Diana Harris presented Geraldine Russell with a gift from the ladies and was thanked for the work she has done so far this year, with more than £100 raised for charity.

Stoke by Nayland travelled to Upminster to play the first round of The Essex Seniors Team Championship.

Home advantage in this competition is big and when the Stoke players saw the teamsheet with all but one single figure handicapped players on it, they knew that they were in for a tough match.

Stoke all played the par-three first hole fairly well and boasted six players up at the halfway mark, with two all square.

They kept the pressure on and eventually came in with a 7/4 victory, on an exceptional course.

Stoke by Nayland will host either Langdon Hills or Belfairs on or before May 13.

Stoke by Nayland men’s teams have had a successful start to their 2016 matches.

The club’s Norman Plum team began their title defence with a comprehensive triumph over Loughton, with both the home and away teams winning 3-0.

Results, home: Mark Chaplin and David Boyden won 5&3, Shaun Underwood and Steve Evens won 7&5, John Sandford and Trevor Warren won 6&4.

Away: Neil Farmer and Roger Gardener won 5&4, Dan Goddard and Byron Long won 3&2, Ian Benson and Gary Thompson won 3&2.

There was also success for Stoke by Nayland’s Curry Cup team, who recorded their best-ever away win with an 11-7 triumph against Colchester.

The afternoon singles were tight, with many matches all square at the turn but the home team triumphed 8–7.