COLCHESTER Golf Club's Junior Open was the place where James Hedger, of Braintree GC,chose to show his obvious talent.

Shooting a gross 68 he won the competition with ease. Bogies on the first two holes were an interesting way to start and Hedger was still two over par on completing the first nine.

However, four birdies on the back nine gave him back half of just 30 shots and a two-under finish.

Although not featuring in the main prizes Ashley Greenham. from West Essex, and last year’s overall winner of this competition, had four birdies in her last six holes to hand in a card of 72 gross. which from her plus one handicap gave her a nett of 73.

The best overall nett score in the boys’ section went to Colchester’s Ben Barber who, from an 18 handicap, returned a 65.

Monika Solanki (Hainault) returned a nett 71 to win the best nett for girls.

The under-18 group was a full house for Colchester with George Whitbread (2) returning a nett 68, closely followed by Jamie Scott (9), with a 69, and, in third spot, this year’s junior captain Tom Miller (4) with a nett 70.

Jackson Sharp, from North Weald Golf Club, played off 13 and returned a 67 to take the under-16s prize with Zach Chegwidden, playing off a handicap of four from Orsett Golf Club, second with a 72.

Colchester’s Louisa Storey (13) returned a 73 nett to take third spot in this group.

The under-14s were well represented and it was Woolston Manor’s Michael Gilbert (6) who took the honours with a nett 66.

Ashley Chalmers (Thorndon Park) returned a 67 from a 28 handicap and James Styles (Chigwell) had a nett 70.

The club held its Hodson Trophy, where teams of three are made up from members of each section.

The winners this year were Bee Pertwee, Curtis Driver and Hilary Persent.

With the best two of the three scores counting they returned a stableford score of 79 to place them just one ahead of Steve Freeman, Janet Austin and Harry Hills, who knocked Roger Moore, Daphne Bloomfield and Zach Taylor into third place after a countback.

The Women’s Golf Union Medal was won by Katie Coopers with a nett 71, from her 18 handicap.

She narrowly edged out Annette Wigley (17) who had nett 72.Liz Lennox (15) was third with nett 75.

The bronze division winners were Jane Madge (22), with a 76, and Claire Hebden (26), returning a nett 80.

In a men’s mid-week stableford, Paul Jackson (11) scored 40 points to comfortably win over Trevor Cock (14), who had a return of 37 points.