ANDY Pestell knocked three shots off the professional course record at Colchester Golf Club’s 32nd East Region PGA-run Pro-Am.

Pestell, attached to Chelmsford Golf Club, a regular performer at this event, put in a round of 61 to comfortably establish a new course record at the club.

Without a single dropped shot, Pestell carded seven birdies and an Eagle, going out in 31 and coming home in 30.

On the day after the hottest July day on record, with the temperature at a slightly more comfortable level, second place went to Paul Maddy, with an excellent 65.

Colchester’s own pros had a good day, with Mark Baker taking ninth spot with a 68.

He was left ruing a double bogie on the last, which wiped out an Eagle on the second.

Chris Cutchie has gone back to the drawing board on how to play par threes.

He notched up seven birdies in his round - only to spoil them by bogeying all the par threes.

Cutchie's pain was eased by being the pro in the BC Designs team which won the team prize.

Their score of -19 was enough to put them two clear of four teams on -17.

Second place went to Cask Marque’s team of David Salisbury (Three Rivers), Paul Nunny, Roger Wright and Alistair Macnaught.

In third were the Tee-Rific team of Ruebotham, John Redden, Ed Woods and Richard Hayes, with Pestell’s team taking fourth spot, manned by Clive Hebden, Roger Moore and Tim Rogers.

The captain’s team secured fifth spot, with Maddy, Jim Wilkinson, Mike Carroll and Alan Irvine.

The Irvine family were also main prize winners in the raffle, winning the use of a villa holiday in Barbados.

The day was in aid of E.A.C.H. (East Anglian Children’s Hospice) which does excellent work in supporting families and caring for children with life-threatening conditions.

Nearest the pins on the par threes were Oliver Allison, John Dornan, Amanda Munson and Mike Duley and nearest the pins with their second shot was Oliver Allison (14th) and James Ruebotham on the 18th (pros only).

Thanks must go to Tim Rogers, Bill Hart and Bill Anslow for their organisation, the bar and catering staff for feeding and watering competitors and guests alike and perhaps most of all the green-keepers who presented a great, record-breaking course in such good order.