GOSFIELD Lake welcomed 104 players in 26 teams to compete for the winner’s trophy in their annual Community Golf Day.

In ideal golfing conditions, the final result was exciting, with teams separated by the narrowest of margins.

The nine-hole morning competition is a team scramble that was won on the front nine by Team Armill, with Peter Millar, Phil Taylor, David Dadd and John Wilson scoring nett 25.1.

The back nine winners were the Tollesbury Trojans – Ron Parr, Gary Trim, Phil Roblin and Pat McSweeney – with a nett 25.4.

After lunch, the main 18-hole stableford team event began with the best three from four scores to count.

With nearest the pin in one or two shots and long drives for various handicap levels on many of the holes, there was a lot to keep golfers interested throughout the competition.

The winning team was the Gosfield Players – David Turner, Chris Richards, Ralph Rowe and Barney DeBeer – with 136 stableford points.

One point in arrears, on 135, were the Happy Hackers, comprising Bernie Laskowski, Jake Letham, Nigel Chinnery and Wayne Hewson.

In third place, on 134 points, was Colne Valley – Mick Cousins, Rob Roberge, Steven Rose and Ash Nolan.

The best individual scores on the day were also tightly contested with two points separating the top three golfers. The winner after countback was Wayne Hewson with 44 points.

In second was Jeremy Paterson and in third, on 43 points was Ralph Rowe.

The event counts on the support of local companies and individuals who sponsor the event and the prizes, visiting teams from Essex and Suffolk have competed in this event from its inception.

For 21 years, the club and the members have organised and supported the day and have raised many thousands of pounds to benefit the local community and Essex charities.

Funds have been donated to the Sports Pavilion, primary schools, the scouts, guides and brownies, the Senior Circle, woman’s organisations, local charities, the playing field association and a number of amateur sports clubs.

Following the presentation of prizes by club captain Malachy Shields an auction was conducted by Bob Rumney that raised more funding for the community.