Andrew Patrick was triumphant in Colchester Golf Club’s first boarded competition of the year, the Cooper Bland Cup.

Patrick, playing off his nine handicap, was drawn to play in the first group of the morning and was just two over after nine holes.

A good back nine including another birdie on the 16th gave him a nett 67, which proved enough for victory.

Tim Logan (seven) and Stuart Macaulay (six) pushed Patrick closest, after both returned 68s.

Mike Sutton (ten) and Bill Eke (five) finished fourth and fifth, with credible 69s.

Colchester GC’s ladies played their MacKenzie Foursomes Cup qualifier.

Pat Kettle and Jo Mager were victorious with an excellent 72.5 nett, followed by runners-up Cherie Clark and Annie Johnston with a 74.5.

Other qualifiers: 3rd, Gill Crayston and Sharon Manby, 76 nett; 4th Elaine Gilbert and Sheena Nunny, 76.5 nett; 5th Janet Austin and Claire Croger, 78 nett; 6th Chris Clark and Liz Duthie, nett 78; 7th Alison Claire and Jane Reed, nett 79; 8th Patricia Walker and Bridget Whitworth, 79.5 nett.

The top eight pairs now go into a knockout played out during the summer.

Colchester’s Bronze Shield ladies team of seven, with handicaps of 19 and above, enjoyed a 6-1 home win over Gosfield Lake.

Captain Shelley Persent led by example with a 5&3 victory over Jacqui Wormall, while Heather Dennis (19) won her match against Sharon Clark (20).

Linda Freeman (21) won two-up against Debbie Eames (21) and the impressive Jo Mager (21) beat Marion Gaught 8&7.

Cherie Clark (21) narrowly lost one-down on the 18th to Rosemary Bollen (23).

But Nerys Horrocks (22) beat Cathie Hatcher (25) 3&2 and Jane Madge (23) secured her win on the 15th, to complete Colchester’s victory.

Colchester’s ladies were also victorious at Braintree winning 5-3 on matches. Captain Shelley Persent (19) lost to Caroline Fields (19) but Heather Dennis beat Sue Scott on the last.

Fiona Prentice lost 4&3 to Kaysa Bolland but Jane Lohore evened up the match scores, beating Julie Wright. Jo Mager defeated Caroline Harris 4&3 and Cherie Clark won her match against Jenny Day 5&4, before Nerys Horrocks saw off Liz Maynard.