HOLDERS Stoke by Nayland Golf Club have booked their place in the Norman Plum trophy semi-finals.

They beat Colchester GC in their quarter-final to progress in the competition, where each team consists of 12 players with a minimum of two players from each category.

Six players played at home and six played away in the Four-Ball Better Ball Matchplay format.

Stoke's home players were on the Gainsborough course, in good golfing conditions.

First pair out Roger Gardner and David Boyden put the first point on the board with a win on the 15th hole.

This was soon followed by Stoke Norman Plum captain John Sandford and his partner Steve Evans, securing a 2&1 win.

Byron Long and Chris Williamson completed the clean sweep, with the third win.

Stoke secured another three wins at Colchester, to book their semi-final place.

Results, at Stoke by Nayland: Roger Gardner & David Boyden won 4&3; John Sandford & Steve Evans won 2&1; Byron Long & Chris Williamson won 3&2.

At Colchester: Gary Thompson & Trevor Warren won 3&2; Ian Benson & Trevor Brace won 4&3; Dean Brace & Shaun Underwood won 5&3.

Betty Cox's Ladies’ Captain’s Day at Stoke-by-Nayland proved to be a colourful affair.

Her chosen theme for the day was Cool Cats and Country Cottage Gardens, as more than 50 ladies took part in a team event.

Two scores counted on par fives, three on par fours and four on par threes, on the Gainsborough course.

Prize winners, best front nine – Alison Jennings, Kate Fitzgerald, Amanda Hall and Eileen Hands; best back nine – Mal Went, Suzanne Shaw-Smith, Jo Little and Mandy Byham.

Nearest the Pin hole 3 – Ann Thomas; Nearest the Pin hole 7 – Gwen Broadhead; Nearest the Pin hole 18 - Karen Lewis.

Straightest drive on hole 13 – Mandy Byham; first overall – Lesley Munro, Susie Milner-Moore, Joan Landen and Fiz Grundy; second overall – Jane Golding, Hilary Cairns, Margaret Bentley and Sybil Paton; third overall – Roz Clements, Gwen Broadhead, Debbie Howlett and Sue Gregory.

Cox was driven in her decorated buggy by Ladies' vice-captain Anne Hemmings, where she was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Ladies Section secretary, Ann Major.

At the end of the round, Cox was presented with a silver braclet and a book of photographs signed by the ladies, with messages of goodwill and thanks for all her hard work so far.

A raffle prize of a round of golf for four at Bury St Edmunds raised more than £150 for the ladies captain's charity, The Children's Society.