Last Sunday saw both the Gents and Ladies at Greetham Valley Golf Club competing in a Stableford Qualifier for their respective versions of the Colin Easson Trophy, writes David Aldred.

In the gents' event 141 entrants fought for supremacy but the eventual winner was Ken McCann (10) with a score of 39 points. Ken had birdies at the 6th and 10th holes, both par 3s, and was virtually faultless in his round apart from two double bogeys. He was particularly strong on the return half.

Gabriel Aimes-McCormack (10) took the runner-up position on countback with 39, also having scored 10 pars and eight bogeys, but it was his stronger front half that caused him to drop into second place.

Third spot went to Neil Baker (also with 39) who will be kicking himself as a failure on the 17th, followed by a double on the last, was his undoing.

In the Ladies section there was a win for Dee Ginnity who scored 37 points in a very steady round with one birdie and six pars.

Dee had started very steadily with two pars and birdied the 5th before running into difficulties on the 9th. Coming home, a succession of bogeys kept her score moving before she finished with a satisfying par.

Close behind, on 36 points, was Ellie Haughton who carded three birdies and five bogeys for a regulation 36 points. Ellie was consistent with her scores on each half to end up in line with her handicap expectations.

Third place went to Sue Brand (14) who started with real problems as she scored minimal points on the first three holes. Thereafter, however, there was no stopping Sue as she rattled in seven pars and eight bogeys to end up with 35 points.

Amongst the Juniors (who were all entered in the main competition) the leading players were Yasmin Bass (27) with 34pts, Luc Affleck (11) on 33 and Izzy Haughton (10) with the same score.

The previous Thursday, the Gents Mid-Week Stableford proved to be a tight run affair with the top two spots being settled on countback - as were third and fourth places.

Leon Wyche (6) eventually prevailed to take top place with 39 points due to a solid back nine which was completed in level par thanks to a birdie on the 10th.

On the outward half, a birdie on the first set him up well and this, coupled with a finishing burst of pars on the last three holes, left Leon well placed at the turn. Just losing out on countback, Anthony Mousley (13) had a strong card on the front half which was spoilt by a failure on the 8th thus restricting his points score to 19 on the outward nine.

Anthony was thrilled to score a hole-in-one on the 10th and all was going very well until his high standard dropped marginally on the last four holes. Third place went to Richard Wilson (6) who just beat Alex Fairbrother on countback with his score of 36pts.

Richard had two birdies on the outward nine and was continuing very well on the return although the 16th caused a few problems, but a finishing par-par burst was satisfying.

Due to the Bank Holiday, the Seniors (Monday) competition had been delayed until the Tuesday and a Qualifying Stableford was played on the Lakes course in which Keith Stafford continued his fine form with a winning score of 42 points.

Keith completed the front nine in three over gross (thanks in particular to a birdie on the 6th) and replicated this form over the back nine which he totalled in four over.

For this fine performance Keith's handicap is reduced to 11.5. Close behind Keith, in fact only losing on countback, was Paul Thurman (27) who should have finished higher but a failure to score on two of the last three holes was his undoing.

Paul was particularly strong in the middle of his round (on holes four to 13) but let himself down at the start and the finish. In third spot Lawrence McBride (15) also had a good round with a total of 40 points and Lawrence, like Keith ahead of him, was particularly strong on the front half where he also finished four over gross with a birdie on the 6th.

The back half proved more troublesome as the first two holes caused him to drop points, but thereafter Lawrence was very solid.

On the team golf front, Greetham Valley Second Team played against Burghley at home and, despite another valiant effort, lost by 3 ½ to 2 ½. The weather held out with only light rain and the course was in excellent condition considering the recent rain but this was not quite enough to inspire the team who now have a month off to regroup.

Saturday saw the opening fixture for the Gentlemen's Friendly Matches take place with a well-earned half at Toft.

The course was in good condition and considering the absence of some key players who had been drafted in at short notice to support the 'B team', this match felt very much like a win.

There was a convincing win for the formidable pairing of Max Maksymiw and Malcolm Boyd (4 and 3), whilst Chris Hatch and Duncan Reilly (3 and 2), and Ian Cunningham and Gabriel Amies McCormack were also winners - the latter pair always had their nose in front though challenged at the end they held firm to ensure the overall match half.

There were excellent performances from Packa Risi and Peter Wood, who were matched against Toft's strongest pairing (captain Mike Roberts and Gary Cooke). Peter at one point responded to a wayward tee-shot by precariously balancing in the water's edge to pitch out of the water, and then finish the hole miraculously with a par (much to the admiration of all). However, despite both players achieving their lowest personal gross scores at the challenging Toft course, they were unable to match the opposition who dovetailed perfectly, and they finally succumbed to a 4 and 3 loss.

On Monday the Seniors Section played for their Jubilee Trophy (first presented to recognise the Queen's Jubilee) in the form of a Par-Bogey competition and there was a clear winner as Colin Bateman (13) cantered round the Valley course with a score of +6.

Colin totalled nine pars and a birdie and never carded worse than a bogey. In runner-up spot Neil Lowndes (12) had seven pars and two birdies but ended up at +3. Third place went to Lawrence McBride (14) who continued his good form from the previous week with score of +3 but lost out on countback on the last two holes.