PLAYGOLF Colchester duo Mark Pidgeley and Matt Barnett finished as runners-up in the Mullis Trophy Final.

They recorded 42 points, a point behind winners Paul Hegarty and Alex Gray of Burnham-on-Crouch.

The Essex’s John Booth and Karl Bowden were third on countback with 41 points, in the fourball-betterball stableford format.

A total of 38 teams, representing 29 clubs, contested the Mullis Trophy, which was first played for in 1931 and is traditionally the final competition on the Essex Golf Union calendar.

Barnett also enjoyed success in Playgolf Colchester’s Texas Scramble, along with team-mates Richard Frost and Sam Durant, following a superb round of nett 59.0.

Phil Reeve, Bruce Critchley and Alister Bailey were runners-up with a score of 60.2, just .1 ahead of third-placed Trevor Barnett, Stephen Allen and Martin Kilbey (60.3).

Ron Gilzean (14) has been crowned this year’s Playgolf Colchester senior champion, following a lowest gross-winning round of 81 (nett 67).

He carded a very consistent nine pars and eight bogies and might have won by a wider margin, had he not triple-bogied the straight-forward par-three 16th.

Jeff Coles (18) was runner-up with his gross 83 (nett 65) ahead of third-placed James Sealey (20) with a gross 87.

Alan Cole (21) carded six pars to win Playgolf Colchester’s senior charity day, earning himself a shot handicap cut with his card of 39 points.

Will Elder (13) shot a one under par 37 points to finish second, ahead of Michael Johnson (20) who was third with 36 points.

Playgolf Seniors recovered a 5.5-2.5 deficit to beat Newton Green 8.5-7.5 and maintain their inter-club unbeaten run.

Pete Hughes and Michael Johnson claimed the winning point when they comfortably won their match, 8&7.

Playgolf Colchester staged their annual Ladies/Seniors fun day in superb weather conditions.

The three ball Texas Scramble saw each team made up of two senior players and one from the Ladies section.

The team of Judith Peeling, Bruce Poole and Brian Ruffles recorded a fantastic nine-under-par nett 61 to win by a shot.

Roz Cole, Robin Kilburn and Seniors captain Jeff Coles were runners-up on countback ahead of Linda Marshall, Peter Saye and Mickey Durrell, after both teams recorded nett 62.

Cole claimed the nearest the pin prize for the Ladies at the third hole, while Kilburn clinched it for the seniors at the 14th.

Heather Heath and Greg King claimed the awards for being nearest the pin in three, at the par-five 15th.