CHAPS Stableford Forty points in Colchester Golf Club’s CHAPS Stableford saw Sam Tarr comfortably win the Club’s second charity Stableford. On a day when it was touch and go whether the competition was playable, Tarr’s round in near gale conditions was to be applauded. In the more extreme parts of the course balls were at times oscillating and on the brink of moving on the greens. Nevertheless Tarr and, for the second week in succession, over 100 hardy members, fought on. The competition supports a Colchester men’s health charity, which aims to raise awareness and support the development of new health services directly targeted to men’s needs. Tarr’s two birdies and six pars and a handicap of nineteen giving him his 40 points was always going to be difficult to beat in the conditions. Nearest to Tarr were two golfers on 38 points. One was last week’s winner Carl White (20), who after having had his handicap cut by two continues to show form and Dick Bokenham (13) also in joint runner-up spot, but losing out after a countback to take third place with Lewis Barber (5) on 37 taking fourth. Hard on their heels and returning the best gross of the day was Alan Sharrocks (2). Playing off two gives little room for mistakes in the best of weathers so Sharrock’s five bogeys were no surprise but, tempered with three impressive birdies, just put him above the rest of the field. Close on his heels returning 35 points was the man who had last week’s best gross, Tom Neal also playing off two, whose only real mistake on the day was a double bogey on the 11th. The Club has supported the CHAPS charity since 2003. The charity aims to raise awareness and provides tests for common male problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and prostate cancer. Its next Men’s Health Day Clinic will be at The Archer Community Centre at Braintree on 28th March, followed on the 11th April at the JobServe Community Stadium Colchester. There are other numerous clinics planned during 2019, throughout Suffolk and Essex. Anyone interested please check out the website - chaps.uk.org - for full details. |