CAI James snatched victory from Ben David in Colchester Golf Club’s Club Championship.

Played off scratch, the 36-hole competition is the pinnacle of golf at the Braiswick club.

With James and David being level on 147 each at the end of the two rounds, the competition went into a two-hole play-off.

The pair played up the first and down the 18th and then, if the scores were still level, it would go into a sudden death play-off.

The duo had been nip-and-tuck throughout the two days, with James having the better of it on a very hot Saturday, with a 72.

However, David was right on his heels with a 73.

David had started at a pace, with birdies on the first and second, but three bogies on the back nine against only one for James gave him the edge.

Sunday’s scoring went David’s way when James had a seven on the seventh, along with a double bogey on the 10th.

However, James was still snapping at his heels, just one shot behind at the end of the round, to make them level on 147 after 36 holes.

In the two-hole play-off, David birdied the first to James’ par, but the scores evened up on the second hole when David put his drive into the ditch on the 18th and had to drop out.

From there he could only make a five while James had a par, making them level again and so it went into sudden death.

The rest of the field could not keep pace with the leaders and were eight shots back.

Lewis Barber and James Angel were in joint third place with a total of 155 and joint fifth spot was shared between Roger Wright and Richard Withnall, both on 158.

But up front it was all happening, with James and David going into the sudden death play-off.

It didn’t last much longer as James birdied the first against David’s par to give him the Championship.

Kyle Appleton, playing off 16 and with rounds of 82 and 87, won the handicapped prize.

On Monday, using the same course layout but playing from the yellow tees, the vets had a home match against Clacton and they continued their recent run of victories with a 5&3 win.