The postponed Captain's Shoot-Out was held in glorious sunshine on Sun 20th May amongst the top 10 7-day players in the club.  With a format which sees one player drop out over each successive hole of the Essex course, nerves were frayed from the start.

On hole 1, David Jolley was knocked out courtesy of a visit to the pond and a unsuccessful chip-off against Paul Chamberlain.  Hole 2 saw Mike Barker come to grief in a greenside bunker for six. 

On hole 3, three players tied on five and had to 'chip-off' out of a bunker.  David Smallman played a majestic shot close to the pin, Malcolm Knobel-Forbes left his in the bunker (and very nearly picked it up in disgust) only to see Paul Chamberlain also leave his in the bunker further from the flag.  Exit Paul.

The standard of golf this year was much better than in previous years - typified by the fact that not a single contestant visited the water on the 4th.  Unfortunately, Steve Miller's unintentional lay-up drew a five to seal his fate. On the 5th, David Smallman sunk a 10ft put for a five to avoid a chip-off with Roy Bell who had visited the rough on his way to a six.  By the 7th tee, a refreshment break allowed everyone to draw breath and for various shoot-out debutants to celebrate getting this far well ahead of any reasonable expectations!

Sadly for Malcolm Knobel-Forbes, the dream ended on the 7th green-side bunker with a duffed shot and a resulting six.  Still in contention were Phil Black and Trevor Clifton (both shoot-out 'first timers'), Mark Lewis (who had so far amassed two birdies) and shoot-out veteran David Smallman.  Sadly, Mark pulled his next tee-shot into the rough from which he never recovered.

The par-3 8th had Trevor pull his tee shot 5 yds left of the green followed by both David and Phil producing much better shots setting up certain 3s which they duly converted.  Trevor putted out of the rough and sunk a 6ft nervy down-hiller for a three also.  The chip-off out of the bunker produced no great shots but Phil Black's 'thin' across the green was not good enough to keep him in.

Going down the last, both David and Trevor ended 10ft from the hole in four.  Putting first, David's ball caught the hole rim but miraculously staying above ground 2 inches away.  Trevor's luck held out however sinking his putt for overall victory with a total gross score of 40.