BRAINTREE Golf Club kicked off their Thornton Cup campaign with a 9½-5½ win at Toot Hill.

The Stisted squad edged the morning foursomes 3-2 with fine wins for Tom McGee and James Hedger, Matt Sanders and Jon Earl and James Bussell and Tony Craven, who stepped into the team at short notice.

The afternoon singles saw Braintree press the accelerator with wins for Anthony Little, Sanders, Jack Jordan, Earl, Craven and team captain Mike Groves, who threw in a crowd-pleasing eagle on his way to a six and five success.

Add to this an honourable half for Bussell and Braintree were safely into round two.

The final of the club’s Men’s Winter League saw Sanders, off scratch, and Julian Pegg (10) beat Andy Wiffen (8) and Paul Moreton (10) in extra-time.

There was little to separate the finalists as the contest remained all square through 18 holes and until the third play-off hole where Sanders and Pegg prevailed.

The Cameron, order of merit event, was decided on countback in favour of Arthur Turner (12) as he edged out Alan Field (8) after both had nett 67s.

They finished a shot ahead of Howard Plush (10), who took third spot ahead of Stephen Frankland (18).

The Professionals Trophy - one of the club’s majors - was won by Nigel Thurley (21) on countback from Paul Buchan (3) after both finished with 37 points.

Gary Sherwin (10) finished third with 36.

Three pairings all finished with nett scores of 72 in the ladies' Stisted Park Fourball betterball.

After a countback, Sue Scott and Alison Holborn were declared winners ahead of runners-up Julie Race and Carol Cuthbertson, with Janet White and Anne Gisby third.