Felixstowe Ferry’s Glen Davis and Gary Howard defied the bitterly cold weather to win the better ball prize in Southwold’s Suffolk Winter Alliance meeting.

Their 44 Stableford points beat Trevor Warren and Ian Benson of Stoke by Nayland by one point.

Third place was decided on count back. Lee Gregory and Ady Gipson (both Stowmarket) had 42 points with 23 on their back nine.

No professionals took part. The next meeting will be at Hintlesham on February 14 when players will be competing for the John Whiting Trophy.

Other scores

42: M Mansfield and S Rex (20 on back nine).

41: A Goodwin and P Fairbrother, A Fish and K Rooney, R Benson and D Brown, D Goddard and M Mansfield.

39: J Cunnell and A Soby, N Salmon and D Matter, J Williams and D Yates.

38: J Snow and M Baxter, M Klingle and G Price, P Flanagan and S Kidby.

37: B Lever and C Lever, R Bland and I Smith.

36: C Leathers and J Gilham, T Mitchell and T Carman, R Ross and R Clayden.

35: R Davies and G Vandervord, B Cooper and G Courtney.

34: A Smith and M Moore, Lyn Fish and M Williamson, T Broomfield and M Firman.

32: G Borthwick and W Darling, L Hart and R Cansell.

31: K Kennedy and A Gage, C Whyatt and A Garrett.

- Suffolk Ladies lost their first practice foursomes match of the year against Aldeburgh men by three matches to one. The formidable partnership of county captain Vanessa Bell and county champion Alice Barlow were their only winners.

The Ladies won 4-0 last year so adjustments were made. Every pair played off scratch from the red tees except Taylor and Keely who played off white tees.

Scores: (Aldeburgh names first): Roger Taylor and James Keely beat Sharon Luckman and Lottie Whyman 5 and 4; Ollie Whiting and Tom Huggins lost to Vanessa Bell and Alice Barlow 4 and 3, Martin Youngs and James Barham beat Fiona Stokes and Abbie Symonds 5 and 4, Jeremy Troughton and Oliver Hitchcock beat Lils James and Amanda Norman 3 and 1.

There will be a training session at Ipswich on March 10. Kevin Lovelock, soon to take on greater responsibilities at Ipswich Golf Club on the retirement of secretary-manager Neill Ellice, remains as county coach.

- Mo Pearson of Felixstowe Ferry has succeeded Hermione Scrope as county president. Mo is on the executive committee at Felixstowe Ferry where she is also house manager. She was hostess at the England county finals.

It was an eventful term of office for Hermione with the first-ever success in the East Week and victory for The Tin Man, a racehorse in which she has a share, in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sharon Luckman has stepped down as vice-captain because of pressure of work and personal reasons. A replacement has yet to be appointed. Vanessa Bell has just started a new job as head of fund raising for the Golf Foundation. Eloise Aldous carries on as junior organiser and manager of the junior first team.

Suffolk Ladies are planning taster days at clubs in May to recruit ladies into golf.

Kevin Lovelock said: “Between the SLCGA committee and with the help of Mark Jillings, formerly of Bury St Edmunds GC, and myself we have put together a package. Golf is struggling to attract new players, and this promotional day will only work with your help.” Jillings and the ladies of Bury St Edmunds have previously run this event which attracted 80 to 90 ladies on each day.

There’s a big push from England Golf to increase ladies’ participation by 15 to 20%.

Lovelock added: “There are 180,000 ladies living in Suffolk and only 1,800 are members of a golf club. The aim is to try to grow the game. This initiative is being launched via lady captains and not via golf pros or managers who find it easy to say no.

“If we could recruit seven or eight ladies to each club this would be an increase of 10% on ladies’ membership. The county will produce and provide promotional materials for the event.”

- Outgoing Clacton senior captain John Kemp raised £3000 for Cancer Research UK during his term of office. He is succeeded by Rick Hale.

-The Felixstowe Winter four ball has been postponed until February 20.