A field of the best players Heydon could muster took to the new Essex course for the annual Captain's Shoot-Out on Sat 24th April.  Ten started on the first - playing off scratch - in a format which sees one player drop out per hole leaving a single victor on the ninth green.

First to bite the dust was David Smallman who played two ideal shoots to leave himself just short of the water on the par 5 1st.  But a less then ideal third went for a bath; he still managed a seven courtesy of probably the longest putt holed all day by any of the competitors.

Nerves were at a climax on the second green when six players had to 'chip off' - each having bogeyed the hole in normal play.  Brian Brace lost out even though last year he survived many chip-offs to get into the late stages.  Gwyn May was eliminated at the third following an over-cooked second shot which ran into the water behind the green.  

This tournament was the first to use the re-designed 4th hole and Tom Nicholls was the first to christen the water hazard and was eliminated here for his efforts.  John Chisholm secured the first birdie on the new hole but as is so often the case, calamity follows success in golf and he was eliminated on the next (5th) green with a double-bogey 6.

On the 6th, Scott Barker was eliminated following a missed putt with a bogey 5 and Mel Marks was lost from the field on the 7th green after, to his immense credit, calling a penalty on himself for a moved ball and missing the following 2 foot putt.

Tension rose further on the par 3 8th as Adam Barker pulled his tee shot 10 yards left of the green, Ian Brushett found the putting surface and Clive Barrett left his tee shot 18 inches from the flag.  Adam was eliminated following a sandy five.

On the par 5 9th, Clive and Ian were both about 10 feet from the hole in 3 shots.  Ian took two to get down leaving Clive with a putt for the title.  As the large crowd drew breath, Clive had a surge of adrenalin and missed the putt leaving it 3 feet passed the hole and failed to get the one back.

Ian Brushett secured the trophy and has now been down the 9th hole in this event every year since it has been run except the first.

Our thanks to all of the players and those who came to watch and help.

The full result: