What Anton did was was finish with a double bogey six after a superb round of three twos and three more birdies (with no water to gobble up a ball on Edgbaston's 9th though)

'We have reminded him of it ever since he finished', laughed his playing partners over dinner.

'I could have kicked it and had a five, where I put it off the tee', added the new Champion, first in and only Nuneaton's Neil Stewart came close to the winning 71 with his own 72.

Anton is 65 in August but has only played in the Seniors for the last three years, missing out already on seven chances at more silverware but he did win his age group gross trophy in that first venture over at Sutton Coldfield.

He now has the same record as England Senior Andrew Carman (P3 W1) as one of Englands' best joined many other strugglers over Edgbaston's superb but very slippery greens on what was a beautiful day to play golf. Carman would card a 74 for 3rd place.

'My wife will be very pleased - the trophy can stay at home for a bit before it goes to Robin Hood (Anton's home club).'

Anton has played golf since he was 10 (seven years after Rory M began), firstly at Marston Green before joining Robin Hood when he was 17. He has accumulated 13 Club Championship Matchplay and Strokeplay titles since then, 'peaking' his low handicap at 3 when he was in his 30s (3 was probably the equivalent of Scratch) back then as the handicap system was very different and there were barely a dozen people off '0' .

Other trophy winners were

Barry Webster (Moor Hall) - winner of the Jim Dean Trophy for the Best Gross (60-64) - 74

Ted Mason (Handsworth) - winner of the Carl Bretherton Trophy for the Best Gross (65-69) - 75

Robert Scambler (Sutton Coldfield) - winner of the Directors Cup for the Best Gross (55-59) - 78

John Lawton (Moor Hall) - winner of the Cyril Jewsbury Cup for the Best Gross (Aged 70+)

Graham Hoskin (Olton) - winner of the Best Nett

And it should be added that there were two 'past presidential' prize winners as John Duncombe and John Stubbings took their age group prizes!

The trophies were presented by Roger Danset, Club Captain at Edgbaston, who are to be congratulated on the presentation of their course - and the food for the competitors dinner!