One of the great characters of the local golf scene, Thorpe Hall's Ina Cameron, has died at the age of 81.

Ina played in Thorpe's silver team for many years and made many friends from other Essex clubs.

She donated the Ina Cameron Trophy to the Essex Ladies Golf Associa-tion - a senior cup competition which brought many old friends together each year.

Ina continued to play 18 holes of golf with the aid of a buggy until last year and was a tremendous inspiration to fellow members.

She died in hospital after a long illness.

Top prize for Shirley

When Maureen Rowson held her Lady Captain's Day at Rochford, Shirley Meakin (28) 71 won her prize, the top award of the day.

Jan Harvey took the scratch award on 82 while the Bronze prize was captured by Wendy Wilcock (98). In the Silver Division, Ilean Eley (17) won on 73 from Sue Proctor (13) 74 and Mary Horn (14) 76.

Bronze A went to Jean Bennett (22) on 76 from Denise Stone (28) 78 and Lyn Ivison (28) 80.

In Bronze B, Elaine Tucker (33) 76 won from two members on 80. Vivien Prevost (31) beat Betty Fisher (29) on countback after both shot 80. Ann Bourne was fourth on 82.

Contest success for Basildon

Basildon Golf Club are enjoying an outstanding season in national public golf course championships.

This year the team event for the Clapham Shield has 90 clubs taking part and Basildon had three through to the Southern area semi-finals.

The A team, despite conceding three shots in the Greensome Stableford, beat the B outfit by six shots and now take on their own C team or Belhus Park, who still have to meet in the semis.

Four Basildon players have qualified for the UK public course championship, which will be played at the home of golf, St Andrew's, on September 12.

After qualifying in the regional final at the Whitewebbs Course, they will be joined by those who won through from Wales and Scotland.

Basildon qualifiers were Ron Wilkes, who led his group with 36 points, Darren Turner (38), Mark Oatham (37) and Tony Moul. The competition is a Stableford.

Brucie classic

Children's charity SPARKS are staging their Bruce Grobbelaar Celebrity Golf Classic at Billericay's Stockbrook Manor on September 3.

The price for a team of three to play 18 holes of golf with a celebrity, lunch, followed by prizes and comedy entertainment is £450.

Apart from ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Grobbelaar other top names in action on the day, commitments permitting, will hopefully include Paul Daniels, Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bruce Forsyth.

Call Kate Burton on 0171 931 8899 for full details on entering a team.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.