ROUND nine of the Maldon Golf Club men’s winter league took place in cold, wet and extremely windy conditions that many thought would have meant a course closure.

However, 23 pairs braved the elements to take part in the betterball, stableford competition played off three-quarter handicap allowance.

The tough conditions were reflected in the scores with no pairs shooting below par after handicap.

The winners this week were Sam Clark and Darren Mason with 36 points.

Second place went to Alan Buckingham and Sam Cummins on 35 points on countback from Ricky Todd and Nick Rushen.

Four pairs returned scores of 34 points.

The countback determined that Chris Purkiss and Peter Scanes secured fourth spot, while Peter Bibby and Peter Harper were placed fifth.

There were two nearest-the-pin prizes up for grabs. On the 166-yard, par three fifth/14th the winner was Peter Scanes, although the strong wind meant he needed a driver to achieve this feat.

Sam Cummins took the prize for the closest second shot on the par four sixth/15th.

The Sunday swindle which was played the previous weekend attracted a smaller but select field, with teams of three or four competing in a stableford format where the best two scores on each hole counted towards the team total.

Winning with a score of 75 points were vice-captain Terry Butcher, Dave Newton and Ted Ellis. Second place went to the fourball of David Follows, Leon Griffiths, Nigel Cook and Peter Harper with 73 points on countback from John Meakes, George Watson and Des Bastian. The nearest the pin prize was won by Nigel Cook.