THE 15th and final round of the Maldon Golf Club’s Ben Volta Winter League has taken place.

The final qualifier for this year was played as a betterball, stableford competition with pairs receiving three quarters handicap allowance.

Prior to the start of proceedings, five pairs were still in with a chance of capturing this year’s trophies and the Ben Volta Winter League title.

The winning pair for week 15 was Sam Clark and Darren Mason with a fine score of 44 points, returning a betterball round of gross 69, (two under par).

Second place on countback went to Alan Buckingham and Sam Cummins on 42, just pipping league leaders Mike Kempen and Alan Brown, who also returned a score of 42.

In fourth place on 41 points were Chris Purkiss and Peter Scanes, while fifth place went to Nick Rushen and Ricky Todd with 39 points, on countback.

After much deliberation, the final league placings were calculated.

Fourth place overall went to Sam Clark and Darren Mason on 161 points, third place was awarded to Sam Cummins and Alan Buckingham on 164.

Long-time league leaders Alan Brown and Mike Kempen were ultimately pipped at the post, their total haul reaching 170 points to claim the runners-up spot.

Having occupied second place for the last few weeks, the father-and-son pairing of Pete and Elliot Hawkins managed to secure seventh place in Sunday’s betterball competition thereby scoring 38 points and were awarded 16 Winter League points.

This replaced their previous lowest score of seven and these additional nine points were enough to edge ahead of Brown and Kempen by just one to secure the 2014/15 Ben Volta Winter League title on 171.

This was 18-year-old Elliot’s first trophy at Maldon and his father’s fourth Winter League title, all of which have been won with different partners.

On Tuesday, March 31, Maldon ladies’ section will be hosting a coffee morning with all proceeds raised being donated to Parkinsons Research.

This event will be held in the Maldon Golf Club clubhouse lounge. All are welcome.

The ever-popular Saturday Swindle on March 21 was won by the three-ball of Ged Claydon, Leon Griffiths and new member Ian with 80 points.

Second place went to the fourball of Sam Clark, John Meakes, Malcolm Kemp and Malcolm Burnett on 79.

However, the highlight of the afternoon’s competition was undoubtedly septuagenarian John Meakes’ hole-in-one at the par-three fifth hole – his first ever hole-in-one.