IT was a hat-trick for Jill James when she lifted the Duncan Trophy for the third time at the Ladies' Spring meeting at Woodford Golf Club last week.

James returned a 71 nett in the 18 holes strokeplay competition and also won the putting prize with 30 putts.

Second was Barbara Fitzpatrick with a 72 nett, who also picked up the Granny's Goblet.

The prize for the best score over the front nine holes went to Linda Wylde with Vera Kelly triumphing over the back nine. Zuby Skinner, last year's ladies' captain, won the prize for the nearest to the pin drive on the 128-yard 18th hole.

The Greensome Stableford competition played in the afternoon was won by Linda Wylde and Barbara Fitzpatrick after a count-back from close challengers Anne Gibbons and Vera Kelly.

Higham's Park-based Mike Hennessy lifted the Vice-President's Trophy last week, racking up 37 points from his 20-handicap in the stableford competition over 18 holes. Runner-up was 24-handicap Hugh Williams on 25 points with veteran golfer Sidney Adleman, who plays off 19, a further two pointsbehind.

Eight golfers qualified at Woodford on Saturday for the President's Cup finals. They were Zekia Alsanjak, Richard Blackburn, Michael Everitt, Tony Murray, Mark Deeming, Nick Rowe, Roger Newman and Roy Webb. They now face knock-out matchplay competition for the cup.

Meanwhile at the Carnoustie Classic in Scotland, Woodford's assistant competition secretary Sean Marah did superbly to finish fifth out of 110 international golfers, playing over three Open qualifying courses and Carnoustie, venue for The Open in July, where he enjoyed meeting American golfer Jack Nicklaus, winner of three Open titles.