WITH a number of players unavailable, Braintree Golf Club said goodbye to this year’s Thornton Cup when they were beaten 10-5 at Thorpe Hall in round two.

The morning foursomes saw Braintree fall behind in all five games and although Trevor Whiting and Charlie Nibbs fought back for a well-deserved half, Thorpe took a 4½-½ lead into the singles.

Braintree staged a spirited fightback in the afternoon and were ahead in six of the first seven games out.

John Bradford, Jack Jordan and Adam Crane were victorious while Paul Buchan, Charlie Nibbs and Malcolm Edney secured halves.

However, a couple of games went Thorpe’s way on the final green and they held on to complete a victory in a match that was closer than the final scoreline suggested.

Meanwhile, at the club, low handicappers stole the show in both Stableford events over the weekend at Stisted, with Robert Barrell leading the way.

Playing off a handicap of six, he romped away with the Sunday competition with 38 points, finishing three ahead of Paul Moreton (8) and Ian Davis (12).

Moreton took second spot on countback while a quartet of players returned 34 points to fill the next four places, Stephen Smith (4), Neil Fraser (12), James Hedger (2) and Alistair Stalker (8).

The Saturday Stableford was a much closer affair, with Jonathan Earl signing for 37 points off four, closely followed by Thomas McGee (5) with 36 while Michael Webster (12) was third with 35.

The Junior Monthly Stableford brought a clear winner in Liam Walsh with 34 points playing off 21.

The men’s midweek Stableford was won by Peter Gould with 34 points off 15.

He finished one ahead of Roger Smith (16) with Patrick Crowley (20) third on 31.

The ladies’ midweek medal saw another tight finish with Debbie Blundell, playing off 24, taking top spot on countback from Anne Gisby (19), both with a net 75.

Four more players returned 76 and after another countback Liz Kahn (32) took third place followed by Bridget Couch (23), Carolyn Harris (22) and Ann Snow (17).