HOME players virtually swept the board in Rochford Hundred’s 36-hole open competition for the Centenary Cup.

In the end the main trophy, played off handicap, went to Rochford’s Ray Weidner, who stars in the Essex Veterans team, while club mate John Pleasant took the gross prize.

Three handicapper S Williet from Chelmsford scored a nett 65 in the morning alongside Weidner who had an eagle, two birdies plus 14 pars and saw his handicap drop one to three.

Weidner found the going a little tougher after lunch but still managed a birdie and nine pars in his 78-4=74 while his main rival, Williet got blown away.

And when all the scores were finally in Weidner’s total nett 139 was three shots better than M Kavanagh, who plays off three at St Cleres, with Rochford’s Tony Hadley, also 141, third on countback. Pleasant, who plays off plus one, did not have a happy time in the first 18 holes with a 75 but a three under par 68 in the afternoon pushed him right up the field on 143. Meanwhile Roe Noe birdied two of the four par threes on his way to division one victory in the Saturday medal.

Noe added nine pars for 76-10=66 – well ahead of Lindsay Cunningham (78-9=69). Cunningham had a brace of birdies plus 10 pars but a triple and double bogey put him out of the frame.

Richard Skinner had four birdies and seven pars in his 77-7=70 which was good enough for third place.

A one over par gross back nine helped John Nicholson to 79-12=67 and top spot in division two ahead of Nigel Mathers (80-11=69) and Roy Dalton (84-13=71).

Mathers also hit form on the way home which he covered in one under par gross but a disastrous start – six shots gone in the opening three holes – cost him.

Michael Belford bagged three pars in his 95-26=69 to claim division three in front of John Wade (88-17=71) and Nigel Hagger.

Three shots dropped in the last two holes couldn’t stop scratch player Arthur Leonard chalking up 40 Stableford points to take Rochford’s weekly midweek qualifier. He notched an eagle, six birdies and eight pars to pip Nigel Hagger on countback with Alan McEwen in third.

Rochford Ladies held a Fourball Betterball competition to qualify for the Ping National final. And the duo going forward are Beryl Claxton and Michelle Elliot-Britto on 40 points – one more than Janice Hazledine and Maria Williams.