GOLF: The final midweek meeting of the Winter Alliance season took place at Felixstowe Ferry last Wednesday with a good turn out of 123 players, including 12 Suffolk golf professionals in the field.

THE final midweek meeting of the Winter Alliance season took place at Felixstowe Ferry last Wednesday with a good turn out of 123 players, including 12 Suffolk golf professionals in the field.

Tee off times were from 8.45am and the earlier starters suffered the worst of the weather, with slight showers of rain persisting until mid-morning when the rain cleared. There was a fresh westerly wind and the remainder of the day was fine and dry, but the course was playing long and play was from the yellow tees.

Scores on the day were not high in the Stableford competition with 42 points taking top spot with the next three places on 41 points being decided on the count back rule, three of the five winning pairs being in late starter groups.

It was double-up time for Aldeburgh professional Keith Preston who with his partner Darrell Peel took the Stableford competition prize and also finished one under par 71 to collect first prize in the professional competition. He had a very tidy card with two bogies and three birdies going out in 35 (two under) and back with 36 (one over).

The next Alliance meeting is the Millennium Cup meeting at the Diss Golf Club on Sunday, March 24. This will be followed by the last meeting of the season which will be held at The Suffolk Golf and Country Club on Sunday, April 7.

Felixstowe Ferry Prize Winners

Professional Prize: 1 Keith Preston, Aldeburgh 71, 2 equal Paul Wilby Fynn Valley and Alex Lucas, Fynn Valley 73.

Stableford Competition (better ball): 1 Keith Preston and Darrell Peel, Aldeburgh 42pts, 2 Nick Lane and Steve Lankester, Bury St Edmund and The Suffolk 41, 3 Paul Wilby and Paul Sherwood, Fynn Valley and Southwold 41, 4 Lauwrey Cottrell and Steve Wade, Ipswich and Felixstowe Ferry 41, 5 Paul Bate and Chris Lawley, Brett Vale 40.

Other leading scores:

40pts: T Allum and S Richal, B Green and K Smales, J Mackrell and K Halil, A Holmes and P Davey.