IAN Devenish won Colchester Golf Club’s CHAPS Stableford.

He just got the better of Dan Nicholls after a countback, after both players returned 40 points.

Devenish constructed a very workable round which ended with some outstanding holes.

With four bogies and a double on the front nine, 16-handicapper Devenish turned with 20 points but his back nine started with some uncertainty, clocking three bogies in the first four holes.

However, a superb finish from the 14th, with a birdie thrown in on the 16th, gave him a strong back nine and the countback win.

The club have supported the CHAPS charity for 14 years.

This is a local charity set up to raise awareness and support the development of health services directly targeted at men in Colchester.

In a week where again over 100 members were on the start sheet, second-placed Nicholls had put in an impressive round. Starting with a bogey on the first hole, which was quickly counter-balanced by a birdie on the second, he then pared every hole with the 16th being the costly exception where he bogeyed.

His gross 71 was a round to remember for the five-handicapper.

Two players shared 39 points.

Taking third place and playing off a three-handicap was Cai James.

He returned the lowest gross of the day with a 70.

He was two under par after the first nine but bogeys on the 12th and 13th pegged him back to a notable par-equalling round.

Daniel Harness (17) also returned 39 points, with four players returning 38.

They were Jason Nicholls (0), Harry Hills (5), Scot Farthing (18) and Steve Bozier (12).

Fiona Prentice and Janet Austin won the first round of their Daily Mail Foursomes competition at the Braiswick against Linda Hayles and Caroline Grey, from Frinton Golf Club.

After leading for most of the round, the Colchester pair were three-up on the 16th tee but then lost the next two holes. Recovering from this, they halved the 18th to give them a one-up victory.