ONE of Rochford Hundred’s brightest prospects now plays off plus one after a sparkling four under par round on Sunday.

Arthur Leonard notched 40 Stableford points to win the cadets Malcolm Fox trophy thanks to five birdies — three on the trot — and 12 pars.

He finished ahead of Joshua Hickling (37) and Luke Fraser (34).

Rochford’s September Sunday medal also produced some hot scoring on a course in such superb condition that 11 players in division one all shot net par or better.

In the end Steve Pasfield just edged out Neil Chambers on countback after they both had net 67s playing off nine handicap.

Club chairman Dave Turner (75-6=69) was third again thanks to a better back nine than Joe Galbraith (69-0=69).

Pasfield enjoyed a brace of birdies and 10 pars, while Chambers parred 13 holes. Turner had three birdies and eight pars.

Division two was much more clear cut with Clive Ingram’s 81-14=67 too good for Bob Wells and Steve Cotter who both shot 85-16=69 — all three having a one shot handicap cut.

Ingram had two birdies and seven pars, while Wells had a birdie plus four pars. Cotter had a mixed bag of eight pars only for a quadruple bogey on the dangerous par four 17th to spoil his card.

Ken Trusler had the best net score of the day when he won division three with 84-19=65 — a birdie and six pars which helped repair the damage from a triple and double bogey.

Trusler now plays off 17, as does runner-up Malcolm Treglohan, who had two birdies and six pars in his 84-18=66, with Steve Bailey (90-20=70) in third spot.

Peter Stapleton saw his handicap come down by two shots to 15 after his 43 points won Rochford’s weekly midweek Stableford competition to qualify for the Scott Spencer trophy.

Stapleton, who fired 13 pars, edged in ahead of two handicapper Steve Weidner (42) and Colin Murphy (41).

Weidner birdied five holes and parred 12 only for a double bogey “blob” on the tough par three 15th to ruin his chances. Murphy, now down a shot to 14 handicap, had 10 pars.

Rochford Ladies played a pendant medal with Carol Evans on net 71 just pipping Sally Smith with net 72.

>Rochford Hundred’s youngsters will take on West Essex in the final of the Essex Youth Shield on Sunday.

The team from the Rochford club defeated Crowlands Heath 4-1 at Wanstead Golf Club to set up the showdown against West Essex, who defeated Wanstead 3.5-1.5 at Braintree Golf Club in the semi-final.

The final takes place at Woodford Golf Club.