A NEW Suffolk Golf Union Order of Merit event, the 36-hole medal Rushmere Vase, will be played on Sunday, March 25.What better way for team captains of clubs in the Hambro Cup to assess the current form of their players in a meaningful competition?The Vase will have identical rules to the Eastern Counties Cup at Woodbridge and the Silver Barrel at Purdis Heath and there will be a handicap limit of 12.

A NEW Suffolk Golf Union Order of Merit event, the 36-hole medal Rushmere Vase, will be played on Sunday, March 25.

What better way for team captains of clubs in the Hambro Cup to assess the current form of their players in a meaningful competition?

The Vase will have identical rules to the Eastern Counties Cup at Woodbridge and the Silver Barrel at Purdis Heath and there will be a handicap limit of 12.

The winner of the handicap section will be the first to have his name inscribed on the plinth of a cut-glass vase which is on order but yet to be delivered.

The order of merit points will be awarded on the strength of the scratch returns. There will also be a prize.

The entry fee will be £30 with forms available from Rushmere general man-ager Bob Tawell on 01473 725648. The closing date is March 1.

A ballot will take place should the event become over-subscribed. The first entry received last week was that of Darren Elliott of Woodbridge.

Suffolk Golf Union stages eight order of merit events which include the Suffolk Amateur Championship at Gorleston on June 17 and Suffolk Open at Stowmarket on August 18 and 19.

The order of merit is decided on results from the Suffolk amateur and open and the best four from the other six club events.

Club events are:

March 25: Rushmere Vase. May 20: Eastern Counties Cup at Woodbridge. June 10: Sir John Drughorn Trophy (at Gorleston), July 8: Fishing Smack at Rookery Park. July 22: Silver Barrel at Ipswich. August 26: Coronation Cup at Felixstowe Ferry.

The Silver Frigate at Thorpeness used to be an order of merit event but, because it is an invitation event, it no longer qualifies.

Alex Holmes of Gorleston, the Suffolk amateur champion, has won the order of merit for three years in succession and four times in the past seven years.