FORMER Royston Golf Club captain, Robin Coles, and his guest, Patrick Smith, from Thetford Golf Club won the Men’s Invitation at Royston Golf Club on Saturday.

FORMER Royston Golf Club captain, Robin Coles, and his guest, Patrick Smith, from Thetford Golf Club won the Men’s Invitation at Royston Golf Club on Saturday.

Played as a ‘fourball, betterball, stableford’, the last pair to tee off amassed an amazing 44 points, but only won by a single point from Richard Howorth and Barry Mardell (Chesfield Downs). The large field had an excellent day on the superbly manicured course and the early leaders were Pete Prentice and James Greenall (Links) with 40 points.

This was later matched by Keith Jest and his partner, Gordon Harvey (Maldon), a former member of Royston.

David Caunce and Ian Maddison (Bourn) won the best front nine and Trevor Deards with Mark Smith (John O’Gaunt) won the back nine prize. Club Captain, Sid Seward welcomed all the guests and presented the prizes.

Meanwhile, Royston held its Senior Open on Friday attracting entries from as far afield as Norfolk, Suffolk, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. With a slight fog delay and just a breath of wind it was surprising that only one player played below their handicap.

Home player, Eddie Collins, who by his own admission had been playing some terrible golf over the last few months, came up trumps securing the trophy with an impressive 40 points. The 13-handicapper played some very steady golf to secure a five-point victory.

Dave Abrey (Aldenham), Graham Wild (Welwyn Garden City) and Colin Griffiths (Woburn) all finished in the prizes with 35 points.

Elsewhere Darren Ellis won the Men’s Stableford with 36 points ahead of Paul Thomson and David Plume, while in the Ladies Medal, Linda Lakey came out on top ahead of Jane Millership and Sheila Wood.