The Streatham Trophy is a pairs Stableford competition played at Sidmouth Golf Club over four rounds throughout the winter months, with the best two scores being taken forward and aggregated to a final round which was played last Saturday, writes John Rockey.

Under cloudy skies with a brisk cool wind, scores were not as good as many expected which ensured that many of the partnerships had a good chance to overhaul the leaders, Bob Webber and Martyn White, who were three points ahead of the field after the preliminary rounds.

In joint second place going into the final, were Phil Spencer and Mike Davis who only need to beat Webber and White, their playing partners on the day, by four points to take the magnificent trophy, but a disastrous 29 points put paid to their chances.

Also in second place were Dave Hoare and Ray Gunston, but their inability to keep a diary properly ensured that they couldn’t turn up for the final round, so their chance went by the wayside as well.

The final round produced some fluctuating fortunes with the Stuart Coles/Colin Macklin partnership getting the best score of the day with 40 points to edge out David Pepperell and John Rockey with 37 points in second place just ahead of club captain Paul Hitchcock and Ian Bright on a countback.

Webber and White didn’t have their best day and could only muster 35 points, which gave some of the other teams a real chance to take the trophy, but all the nearest opposition eventually dropped away.

So the Streatham Trophy went to Webber and White with 121 points overall, just edging out the fast finishing Stuart Coles and Colin Macklin who finished with 118 points.

Joint third were Bob Welsman and Mick Baden with 116 points which was the same overall score as club captain Paul Hitchcock and Ian Bright.

?In the Friday Stableford the opportunity was taken by some to trim their handicaps for the coming season with Chris Roberts cutting his handicap to 19 following his winning score of 40 points, with 23 points over the last nine holes.

Second, with 39 points, was Lee Wenham who must be ruing his performance on the 16th hole where he failed to score and so scupper his chances of victory.

However, his three under par score earned him a well overdue cut to his handicap to 13. Third with 37 points was Mike Williams who remains on his 11 handicap.