Competition organisers had to work overtime when six pairs of players tied for top spot for a coveted honours-board trophy at Leighton Buzzard’s Plantation Road golf club.

The clubs’ “intelligent golf” scoring system had to scrutinise the cards of each team that had returned 47 points to determine final placings on points scored in the last nine holes, and if still tied, on the last six, three or final hole

And after a double-check, it was Ladies Champion Jenny Stafford and playing partner Brian Whiting who were awarded the Frank Clements Trophy with 24 of their 47 points scored on the nine holes back to the club house.

Three pairs each had 23 points on the back nine, with  the runners-up being husband-and-wife team Mark and Kate Knight who beat Steve Hammond and Neil Laming on the last three holes. John Allinson and Voja Savic took fourth spot with 15 of their points carded on the last six holes; Colin Beesley and Greg White were 5^th with 22 points on the back nine, one more than Roger Hughes and Ian Woodman.

In a competition of high scoring, other leading scores were: 46pts – Neil Jarvis and Simon Rose, Stephen Foster and Steven Molyneaux, Billy O’Neill and Brian Wilson; 45pts – John Ager and Barry Wills, Darren Alexander and Craig Simmons, Colin Mcleod and Jon Woolford, Dave Embury and Ben Irvine, and Stephen Gillett and Jamie Stone.

Former RAF communications engineer Phil Coumbe won Leighton’s Wallis Cup, his +6 score beating Graham Richmond by a shot. Other leading scores were: +4 Brian Wilson, Roger Hughes, Mark Reynolds, Andres Valentine; +3 Chris Newnham, Ian Hazell; +2 Derek Shaw, Stuart Goodwin, Stephen Boud,  Manny Barker.

Leighton’s Senior squad bounced back from a 5-3 defeat at Beds & County with an 8-0 white-washing of visitors Stowe.  Martin Broadley and Peter Sheridan, Mike Turnock and Keith Griffiths and Ian Rimmer and Graham Robinson staged a late recovery for Leighton after losing the opening four matches at Beds & County.

But Leighton’s Dad’s Army took no prisoners with a clean-sweep over Stowe.  Seniors Captain Peter Myrants and Danny Nairne got the ball rolling with a comfortable win and were followed into the club house with wins by Mike Bluett and Steve Maddison, Paul Johnson and Tim Martin, Martin Broadley and Harry Adam, David Newby and Dave Roberts, Will Sampson and David Bishop, David Paine and Graham Avery, and Ian Rimmer and Keith Griffiths.

Leighton’s return fixture at Stowe in June will be the last to be played on the current course, with Stowe unveiling a newly constructed and longer course next year.

The Leighton club is holding a Free two-hour golfing taster session for girls aged 5-18 years at the Plantation Road club on Saturday, May 4 from 12 noon.  Equipment will be provided for those requiring it.