Marathon effort from Playgolf Colchester quartet in longest day golf challenge

The foursome of Dean Rainbird, Alan Smith, Jack Blackman and Conor Garvey completed a marathon four rounds of golf in one day.

They started at 5am and finishing 16 hours later, supported throughout with visits from friends and family and taking short food breaks.

The team managed to raise a superb amount for money for their cause and the day will live long in their memory.

Jonathan Tait (11) and Cord Plasse (11) both earned shot handicap cuts in the Playgolf Colchester medal competition.

Tait’s better back nine saw him win division one on countback, after both players carded gross 77 (nett 66).

Tait carded nine pars and birdied the par-five second hole, while Plasse carded ten pars and a birdie on the par-four sixth hole.

Edward Quilty (13) also earned a shot handicap cut, in third, after he carded a gross 80 (nett 67).

His round highlights were a very consistent nine pars.

Lee Whitten (16) won division two with a nett 73 - his highlights were a pair of pars and a par-four birdie.

Steve Turner (14) carded a nett 75 to take second place from Alex Crawford (15) with his nett 76.

John Chaplin (21) earned a shot handicap cut by winning division three by a wide margin, with his nett 66 which included a useful five pars.

John Frost (27) carded a nett 71 to take second place ahead of third-placed Michael Hersant (20).

Hersant was third on countback ahead of Dave Evans (22) after both players carded nett 72.

A large field enjoyed good conditions for Playgolf Colchester's senior stableford, with the undulating greens seeing all sorts of difficulty.

However, Peter Saye (15) gave a masterclass with one birdie and nine pars to find the conditions to his liking and win division one with 41 points.

Saye received a two-point handicap reduction for his great round.

Trevor Cocksedge (14) was five points behind in second, with Will Elder (13) third on 32 points on countback from Stephen Peeling, David Evans and Derek Manister.

Harry Eels (28) won division two with 35 points, two points ahead of Mervyn Harwood (28) on countback from third-placed Stephen Dale (26).

Colin Green (27) missed out in fourth, after also scoring 33 points.

Trevor Moss and Brian Hart received a sleeve of balls each for their birdies on the par-three third and 16th holes respectively.

Playgolf Ladies captain Maureen Dale staged a Charity Invitation Day raising funds for Sense - The Hadley Centre for Blind Deaf Children.

The day was declared an enormous success, with a fantastic sum of £358 raised.

Each team comprised of three players from 11 Essex-based clubs, along with a Playgolf lady host.

The best two scores from each hole counted in the stableford format, plus all scores on the par threes.

Shirley Birkin’s team of Sue Ward, Bev Munt and Val Cook from Benton Hall Golf Club won with an excellent six-under par, 94 points.

Judith Peeling’s team, comprising of Tizzy Learey, Lynn Anderson and Anne Walker of the Essex Golf Club, were second on 90 points.

Jennie Boyden took her team, comprising of Beverley Parker, Hayley Joel and Sharon Mandby from Colchester Golf Club, to third place on 86 points.

Nearest the pin prizes were also awarded to Stoke by Nayland's Nicky Ledger and Lucy Sadler from Playgolf.