Pestell and Baker share glory

Essex PGA captain Andrew Pestell (Chelmsford, above) and Mark Baker (Colchester) each took a share of the spoils after a close finale to the Essex PGA Pro-Am.

The duo matched each other blow-for-blow over the Purdis Heath course, finishing the day with solid three-under-par rounds of 68.

Scott Rusbridge of Frinton took third place one shot behind. Mark Stokes of Rayleigh Golf Range was fourth with 70 and Jason Levermore (Channels) fifth with 71.

Steve Hambling of Braintree led the winning team of Neil Howard, Don Cutmore and Gerry Callow with 88 Stableford points on countback from Mark Talbott (Thorpe Hall), Joe Ellis, Carl Neil and David Yang.

Roger Gray (Thorndon Park), Peter Mutch, Patrick Bowler and Malcolm Prior had 84 points to take third place from Baker’s team on countback.

Earlier in the week Essex PGA braved the wet weather at Romford to play in the Lady President’s Cup. Mark Stokes and amateur Elaine Cochrane won with 43 points beating Paul Barham (Stock Brook) and Teri Benson by four points.