Ballard and Law only players to finish under par

EDDIE BALLARD is La Grande Mare club champion for 2003 courtesy of a six-under-par 36 holes total of 122. He finished three shots clear of his nearest challenger, Robbie Law .

Ballard, playing off 15, set the pace on the first day and, in particular, with a back nine of 34 which included a birdie at the short 10th hole.

He had set the foundations for overall victory and on day two he maintained his Saturday form from the off with an opening birdie three.

Following a par at the next, some of Ballard's good work was spoiled with a treble bogey at the third, but this would be the only wobble in what was otherwise a steady final round played under pressure.

The result was a level par 64 and the title.

Law, Mike Veillard and 15-year-old David Banks were the only other players out of a 100-plus field to card a 36 holes total under 130.

Law, better known for his football skills, emerged the nearest challenger to Ballard and was the only other player to be under par for the tournament.

Despite not quite being able to match his opening net 60 Law finished the championship in style.

After finding a two at the 10th, he then parred the final four holes for a second round 65 and subsequently his handicap has been cut by three shots to 14.

Veillard also finds his handicap reduced by three shots.

Playing off 18, Veillard played himself into prize contention on the final day.

Junior island representative Banks (13 handicap) came fourth on 129 and his reward was to head the category three section.

Meanwhile, the talented Neil Black played to his handicap on the final day with a one-over-par gross round of 65 during which he was two under par after the opening six holes.

Black's final round efforts were needed after his opening 72.

The weekend's other achievement of note came from John Mahy, who regardless of finishing well down the field managed to collect the nearest-the-pin prize on both championship days.

The top six women in the La Grande Mare's Mateus Rose Stableford event all managed to post a card boasting 40 points or better, but top of the pile were Joan Hubert and island tennis and hockey star Chantelle de la Mare.

They both amassed 43 points and on countback Hubert (33 handicap) took the title.

She played the second half of the challenging course in style, finding three gross pars towards her 25-point back-nine total.

Wendy Meerveld, June Le Poidevin and women's Muratti footballer Bonnie Evans completed the top five positions and all duly received handicap reductions for their endeavours.