MARK Stones from Boyce Hill Golf Club won the prestigious Heath Trophy at Royston Golf Club on Friday. The 36 hole scratch competition attracted a quality field, with players travelling from as far a field as Southampton, Birmingham, Leicester and Great

MARK Stones from Boyce Hill Golf Club won the prestigious Heath Trophy at Royston Golf Club on Friday.

The 36 hole scratch competition attracted a quality field, with players travelling from as far a field as Southampton, Birmingham, Leicester and Great Yarmouth to play the historic course.

The course was in fine condition despite the drought and many players complimented the greenstaff for such excellent fairways.

With play commencing at 8am, the early starters got away to a flying start and Stones was the joint clubhouse leader after the morning round with a 67, 3 under par.

Joining him at the top of the leader-board were Ben Kerr (Newmarket) and Tom Fernandes (Sudbury), with Paul Holland (King Lynn) a further shot back.

Stones consolidated his position with a steady afternoon round of 71 and had a long wait to see if he would win after being runner up on three previous occasions.

Kerr could only managed a 72 and Fernandes fell away after a couple of double bogeys.

Robert Watkins (Bush Hill Park), the winner in 2005, came storming through the field with a 67 to take third place on level par, behind Kerr and Stones.

Of the home players, Oli Bance had rounds of 74 and 72 to finish 10, just a shot ahead of Mark Rogers, who also shot a 72 in the afternoon.

Marcus Shipley had two steady rounds and finished runner up in the handicap section with 136 (four under par), just two behind the winner, Spencer Pratchett (Chiltern Forest). Mark Bonnett finished third with 137.

The top four ladies all reduced their handicaps in the Ladies Challenge Cup last Tuesday with Carolyn Devaney taking top spot with a nett 68.

Val Squires finished just a shot behind, with Marjory Humphreys taking third spot ahead of the ever improving Pattie Orvis, who has reduced her handicap twice in the last week.

Colin Lawrence won the Midweek Golfers Medal on Wednesday, playing to his handicap with a nett 70.

Keith Wood pipped Eddie Collins for the runner up spot on countback. Both players finished with 71.

Alan Saunders, who now qualifies for the Medal Winners Final in October, won the Men's Saturday Medal.

His playing partner, Roy East, secured second place ahead of Eddie Collins, as they pushed Saunders hard.

The Junior Medal, played on Saturday saw Michael Clapham push his brother Tom into second place with a nett 67 from his 14 handicap.

Tom, playing off 11 managed to stay ahead of Tom Smith (80-11=69) and Lauren Hunt (93-22=71).

Malcolm Cooper hit top form, and with his partner, Keith Pitts and finished with 44 points - that would have normally won the fourball betterball on Sunday.

Unfortunately for them, two pairs played some fantastic golf and amassed 46 points.

Barry Buckerfield and Paul Reid were denied top spot on countback after Gary Hainsworth and Trevor Deards scored 24 points on the back nine to take the spoils.

Next week sees the club hosting its annual Junior Open, past winners include Nick Faldo, who attributes his win in 1975 as his first big tournament victory.