BIRDIE finishes helped Cassie Cunningham and Claire Croger claim victories in Colchester Golf Club's Centenary Medals.

Cunningham won the gross prize while Croger claimed the handicapped prize, in an event played in good spring weather.

Playing off four, Cunningham finished with a birdie on the difficult 18th, following a round of 81 that featured seven pars.

Mandy Rix (7), who also finished with a birdie on the 18th, was runner-up after finishing a shot behind but made too many doubles to win.

Croger (26) had a nett 72 to win her medal with Maureen Devenish (17) one behind on nett 73.

Rix turned the tables on Cunningham with a nett 75 to finish third, while Cunningham shared a nett 77 with Margaret Carter (24) to take fourth.

Colchester’s representatives Cunningham and Louisa Storey moved into the third round of the County Munro Foursomes.

They enjoyed an impressive 8&7 win over the Gosfield Lake pairing of Mel Ponsenby and Sandra Parnell.

Cunningham and Storey also completed a double with a win in the Hunter Foursomes at Thorpe Hall, winning on the 20th hole after giving the opposition 19 shots.

Iain Cruickshank (7) and Don McBurney (21) paired up to win the Paxman Trophy.

They scored 37 points in the foursomes competition, which is open to all members and has been contested since being staged to celebrate Paxman’s Centenary year, in 1965.

Sheila (28) and John (6) Dornan were runners-up on 36 points, a point ahead of Colin Williams (19) and Stewart Ness (12).

It was a tale of woe for Colchester's men’s teams.

In a repeat of last year’s match, the seniors lost out 8&2 at Bentley Golf Club who with big handicap advantages just played steady golf.

Colchester's Jubilee Cup team lost 5&4 following defeat on the last match, on the 17th.

It was a similar story in the Curry Cup, where Colchester lost 10&8 against Colne Valley.

The club fared better in the Norman Plum competition, where they beat Bentley 4&2 to make it a clean sweep of home games.

Colchester's ladies are faring somewhat better than the club's men at the moment, following two victories out of two in the Silver Shield.

They won their first match at home to Thorndon Park 4&1 and followed that up with a 3&2 triumph at Chigwell.

Colchester junior Nico Barnes won the Irish Society of East Anglia Golf Day at Dunston Hall, with 36 points.