COLCHESTER Golf Club enjoyed a sudden-death play-off win over Stoke by Nayland, in the Mail on Sunday Classic first round.

The match finished as a 2½-2½ draw in cold, windy conditions on the Gainsborough course.

But Alan Sharrocks (pictured) beat Trevor Warren on the first hole of a sudden death handicap competition, to clinch Colchester’s victory.

Stoke by Nayland had progressed to the seventh round in last year’s competition.

And team captain Marcus Harden picked a team to try to match the strength of Colchester’s single figure golfers.

Ian McKay was first out for Stoke by Nayland and was evenly matched against Bill Eke, off six and five handicaps respectively.

The match finished with the home club one down but debutant Mark Chaplin won two up against John Redden, to level things up.

Dave Holland’s defeat to Andy Smith handed the impetus back to Colchester but a half point by Ian Benson against Gary Driver and Warren’s very good win against Sharrocks levelled the scores.

In the Mail on Sunday Classic, the teams’ designated fifth-named players return to the first tee for a sudden death handicap competition.

And Sharrocks prevailed over Warren on the first hole, to clinch Colchester’s win.

Results, Stoke by Nayland seniors’ February stableford division one: Ross Buchanan 37 points; Roy Sims 34 points; Bob Filer 34 points.

Division two: Mike Aldir 38 points; Kevin McKenna 35 points; Ray Firth 32 points.

Lesley Garnett and Barbara Jones ran out winners of Stoke by Nayland’s ladies greensomes competition.

They won the nine-hole competition by two points after securing 17 points, to finish ahead of 11 other pairs on the Gainsborough course.

Garnett and Jones finished ahead of runners-up Roz Clements and Gwen Broadhead, who scored 15 points.

Anne Hemmings and Edel Rew were third, with 13 points.

Lady captain Betty Cox’s chosen charity for her captain’s year is the Children’s Society. A quiz was enjoyed and a fundraiser involving guessing the name of a rag doll was won by Joan Landen.