MARK Banham birdied the last hole to claim the Division 1 top prize in the September Weekend Stableford at Caversham Heath on Saturday.

Banham (8hcp) took the honours on countback from David Wise (7hcp) both with 35 points. Wise missed his chance with a nil return on the front nine.

Third was Rob Winstanley (9hcp) with 32 points. Winstanley seemed to be in the driving seat coming to the par three 17th hole, however, he then finished bogey, nil return.

Division 2 winner was Mario Atkinson (17hcp) with 40 points. Andy Horn (15hcp) was runner-up (39) points and third was (12hcp) Stephen Halford (38).

Both Horn and Halford had a nil return on their scorecard while Atkinson and Halford received a one shot cut in handicap.

Geoff Parlour (20hcp) topped Division 3 with 36 points, ahead of Dan Rawlings (19hcp) with 35 points and Richard Usher (21hcp) with 34 points. Twos were recorded by Kevin Allaway (8th hole), Ken Coveney (13th hole) and David Wise (17th hole).

Patrick O’Hare (21hcp) and Joe Saunders (19hcp) are the new holders of the John Pitts Pairs matchplay knock-out trophy after defeating Sunil Shah (17hcp) and Jim Willison (23hcp) in the final.

Kathy North (32hcp) beat Jane Weller (20hcp) in the final to win the Ladies V&A Vase.

West Berks

A SPECIAL mixed competition was held to celebrate West Berkshire’s 40th birthday on Saturday. the occasion.

Gale McAuley, Sandy Miller, Tina Mulford and Mary Harwood won the ‘Waltz’ competition with 91 points while Luke Prestoe, Dan Taylor, Martin Anscombe and Greg Collins returned 89 points to beat Kevin Hopwood, John Harris, Philip Clare and Dave Ware on count-back to take second place.

Lee Nicholson won the men’s Saturday stableford with 38 points beating John Baron on count-back. Tony Atkins was third with 36.

There was a three-way tie in the men’s midweek stableford with Peter Booth, Greg Collins and John Loader all scoring 40 points. The result was decided in that order on count-back.

Barry Lancaster won the men’s seniors’ medal on Wednesday with a gross 90, net 67. Martin Anscombe was second with 94, 74 and Graham Mort third with 97, 75.

In the team events the ladies entertained Marlborough and lost 3-0 while the seniors won 4½ to 1½ at home to Witney Lakes.

West Berks members Alex Anderson and John Loader won the seniors’ open at Wychwood GC on Wednesday September 12 returning 43 points in the Greensome competition to win by two shots.

The team comprising West Berks assistant professional Joe Simpson, Johnny Corbridge and Simon Barrie of West Berks and John Rowe of Ogborne Downs won the Pro-Am at The Lambourne Golf Club in Buckinghamshire on Friday September 14. Joe Simpson was tied for fifth place in the pro’s competition.