FOLLOWING the three-week Christmas and New Year break, Maldon Golf Club members returned to the men’s competition for the Ben Volta Winter league trophies.

Round seven of the first of two leagues was a pairs Texas scramble stableford with each pairing receiving one third combined handicap allowance.

Each player also had to use a minimum of six drives during the 18 holes.

Fifty-six competitors endured relentless rain from 9am onwards but somehow the course withstood the downpour and all 28 pairs completed the 18 holes.

The winners this week with a fine score of 45 points were Mike Kempen and Steve Geary.

Two pairs returned a score of 44 points with Alan Buckingham and Sam Cummins just edging out Martyn Cook and Pete Hawkins in second place on countback.

Maldon’s green-keeping staff Tom Bownes and Stuart Reece-Ford teamed up to score 43 points, as did the league pairing of Tony Davis and Martin Read.

Reece-Ford also secured the nearest the pin prize on the par three fifth/14th hole, while Tony Davis won the equivalent prize on the sixth/15th. Current league leaders Pete Hawkins and Martyn Cook secured the title for League One, with one Sunday to spare, courtesy of their 22 league points awarded for joint second place this week.

This puts them on a total of 121 points, the most any other pair can achieve with one qualifying round remaining being 115.

League two, comprising another eight weeks of winter competition, will start in a fortnight’s time and the winners of that contest will meet Hawkins and Cook in the match play final for the Ben Volta trophies.