Course records don't come along very often especially when the current one is set at 65. So to get two in ten minutes is remarkable - especially when they eclipse the old mark by two.

But this is precisely what Andy Bow and Richard Elmes did during Stoneham Golf Club's recent Club Championship.

Richard's 63, which included 12 birdies, was added to his morning one under par 71 and his two-round total of 134 took him four shots past county champion Ryan Henley, who could only add a 72 to the morning round of 66.

But only ten minutes later Andy Bow holed a five-foot putt on the 18th to equal the record and win the Club Championships by two shots with a 36-hole total of 132, having shot a first-round 69.

It was the second time in two weeks that Andy had beaten Richard, the other victory coming in the recent Southampton Open.

Richard, however, did manage to take some silverware home with him as he won the Pat Griffin Cup for the handicap event by one shot from Kieran Murphy with a two-round nett total of 130.

But the amazing golf wasn't all left to the second round - with eight handicap junior Murphy shooting a gross 71 to get a two-shot handicap cut and six-handicap Ken Meaden a gross 68, which included bogeying two of the par threes.

Single shot of the day must go to Matt Le Tissier, who holed out from 120 yards on the 18th for in his words "a routine par!"

The following week, during the ELGA SE Group Girls Championship, the ladies' course record of 71 fell to Olivia Higgins from Royal Jersey, who shot a 70.

l Stoneham Golf Club has won a 'bronze' award in the Golf Monthly Regional Course Rankings.

These awards are made as a result of reports produced by a panel of golfers who visit each course and assess all aspects of the club, from the welcome they receive through the course and clubhouse to the cheery goodbye as they depart.

The aim now is to strike 'gold' by continuing to improve the course and clubhouse, which was started this year with the refurbishment of the lounge and restaurant area.