RICHARD Nash grabbed success in Maldon Golf Club’s Rover Cup.

Nash shot a fine medal round of nett 68 to secure the trophy and climbed to 13th place in the Order of Merit, with only seven qualifying scores to date.

Most other members have already returned ten qualifying scores so this may be the start of a late surge by one of Maldon’s younger full members.

The Rover Cup is a long-standing competition in Maldon’s fixture list and was contested this year as a full handicap medal, attracting a field of 46 entrants.

Second with nett 69 was Bill Shelley, third on countback, on nett 70, was Dave Poynton, just edging last week’s winner Mike Kempen into fourth place.

Roy Hurren was fifth, on countback, with nett 71.

Sunday’s nearest-the-pin prizes went to Dave Poynton on the par three fifth/16th and to Stuart Reece-Ford for the closest second shot to the par four sixth/15th.

The Order of Merit is currently headed by 18-year-old Elliot Hawkins on 322 points, ahead of his father Pete Hawkins on 308. Darren Mason is third on 302, Alan Syrett fourth on 296 and Tony Last fifth on 286.

With three qualifying competitions still to be played any one of a dozen players could still capture the title.

Maldon’s seniors competed for the Ron Cook Trophy.

This was a particularly poignant competition this year given that Ron Cook passed away suddenly only a few days earlier following a short illness.

Cook was a long-standing, stalwart member of Maldon Golf Club, a current vice-president of the club, a respected Maldon Rotarian, renowned Goldhanger resident and much-loved family man.

Ron’s sons Martyn and Nigel were in attendance to present the trophy to the winner Charles Houlding who shot a fine nett 68 in the medal competition.

Second place went to Graham Page on nett 70, while Chris Pratt was third with nett 71.

The away leg of the Maldon versus Channels friendly was played on Friday.

The event was played on an aggregate Hambro match play basis and Channels ran out winners by the narrowest of margins over the two games – just one hole up.

The Kemp Cup was contested by Maldon’s ladies’ section.

This stableford contest was won by Linda Skerry on 33 points, while Sally Francis was second on 30 with lady captain Kate Stevenson third, on countback, with 26.

The August monthly medal was won by Dave Butcher with a nett 72.

Second to fourth positions were decided by countback as all three players recorded nett 74s.

They were, respectively, Andrew Crozier, Pat Coyne and Paul Walker.

Jordan Crozier was fifth with nett 75.

Maldon Seniors’ friendly match at home to Harwich Golf Club ended in a narrow 4½ -3½ victory for the hosts.