Stoke by Nayland has won the Veterans Inter-Club Tournament, topping the list of 10 clubs from all over Suffolk and Essex.
This is the 10th time that Stoke has won the trophy in its 40-year history, making us one of the most successful clubs overall.
The format each year is 10 teams of 10 players (maximum handicap 18) playing singles Stableford in fourballs randomly featuring a mix of clubs. The nine highest individual scores per team are aggregated to give the score on the day.
This year, the competition was hosted by Braintree GC and the SbN team, consisting of Bill Wardle, Glen Jackson, Ian McKay, John Smith, Paul Sandfield, Pete Hele, Phil Boyland, Simon Oliphant, and Tony Carman, was carefully selected by playing captain John Parkinson.
Captain Parky set a target of 31 points per player, suggesting that achieving this could put the team in contention for victory.
Before teeing off, there was much discussion about the weather, as thunder and lightning were predicted. Fortunately, after some early showers, the sun broke through the clouds for the remainder of the day.
Although the fairways were burnt and had limited grass, the greens and approaches were in exceptional condition. The greens were quick and true. Braintree is a challenging course that requires a strategic approach; players must pick their targets and execute their shots with precision.
After the golf had finished, teams enjoyed a delicious two-course dinner, before the results were then announced.
In terms of team scores, SbN came out on top with an impressive 283 points (an average of just over the 31-point target per player). Second place, three points behind on 280 was Colchester, and third on 278 was host club Braintree.
Captain Parky scored the third best individual score of 37 (the winner had 39).
