THREE birdies on the opening three holes provided the platform for the winners of Playgolf Colchester’s Texas Scramble.

Lloyd Decort, Ben Cosgrove and Aaron Leeder got off to a flier but a bogey on the par-four fourth hole slowed their progress.

Pars followed though and a further birdie on the par-five ninth left them three-under-par, at the turn.

The back nine was equally steady and three birdies and six pars left them on 64 and a winning score of 59.7, minus their 4.3 handicap.

Alan Pearman, Miguel Ruiz and Alex Crawford took second place, with a gross 67.

They started well to card a three under front nine and followed that up with a level back nine.

That, minus their handicap of 6.3, gave them a score of 60.7 to help them secure runners-up spot by just 0.1.

Third-placed Tom English, Michael Seaman and Richard Swindells equalled the lowest gross score of the day (64).

They started well and were five under after nine, narrowly missing out on being two shots better off with lip outs on the eighth and ninth.

But apart from birdie on the 18th they pared every hole, which left them on six-under-par for a card of 64 to record a score of 60.8.

The competition saw teams of three play off a tenth of their combined handicap.

Each member had to use a minimum of five drives and play the best positioned ball from there until the ball was holed.

Results, Texas Scramble: 1st Decort, Cosgrove, Leeder 64 – 4.3 = 59.7; 2nd Pearman Ruiz, Crawford 67 - 6.3 = 60.7; 3rd English, Seaman, Swindells 64 – 3.2 = 60.8.

A large field of players competed in Playgolf Colchester’s senior section stableford single division event.

Bruce Poole won with a creditable 14 bogeys and two pars after edging out in-form Derek Manister, who had a good round with four pars and 11 bogeys.

Michael Johnson was third on countback, edging out Ron Gilzean thanks to his birdie two on the par-three 16th.

Results: 1 Bruce Poole 41pts; 2 Derek Manister 40pts; 3 Michael Johnson 38pts ocb.

Nicky Withycombe won division one of the Ladies’ Medal with a nett 80, in windy conditions.

Gina Macmillan was four shots back after carding a nett 84, while Ann Longman was third with a nett 85. Division two was topped by Carol Farrance.

Harry English won the club’s junior stableford, recording 37 points to win by a seven-point margin from second-placed Jack Tokley (30 points) and Jack Moutell (28 points) who was third.