THE 2009 Old Thorns Club Championship was held in very warm conditions, with the course set up at its toughest for the 36-hole event.

Fittingly, on FA Cup final day, David Hudson, a Chelsea supporter, got proceedings under way at 7am playing with Andy Dutton, an Everton fan. Everton prevailed in the golf, if not in the football.

Competitors teed off throughout the day, looking to burn up the course, but some players self-combusted instead as Old Thorns, near Griggs Green, again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest tests of golf in the area.

At the start of Sunday's second round, title favourite Ron Quarrington, who plays off one, led the scratch competition by two shots from Will Brown and Scott Benton. And with 20 players within six shots of the lead in the handicap section, both competitions were set up for an exciting finale.

Quarrington, Benton and Brown, along with Robert Craig, went out in the last group, and Quarrington's lead soon evaporated as his driver and three-wood deserted him off the tee.

A battle royal followed, with the lead constantly changed hands, and by the 17th Quarrington, Benton and Brown were all tied on the same score.

Three pars maintained the status quo and a large crowd gathered around the 18th green for the gripping climax.

Quarrington's driver failed him again and he took six to finish third, while Brown and Benton holed tough six-foot putts to ensure that the championship went to a play-off for the fifth time in six years.

In the handicap competition, Mark Chivers had charged through the field with a nett 67 to finish one clear of the rest.

Brown and Benton went to a second play-off hole after both had parred the first with fours. Brown's accuracy paid dividends down the par-five second as he found the green in three. Benton was wayward and it was Brown who won the play-off to claim his second Old Thorns championship, following his win in 2006.

The new champion thanked all the professional shop and greenkeeping staff and hotel management and staff for their hard work in staging this superb event.

To find out more about Old Thorns, visit http://www.oldthorns.com">www.oldthorns.com or call 01428 724555.