Buckingham shot rounds of 74 and 78 for a combined 152, one shot clear of runner-up and holder Ian Buswell (75+78 = 153). Anthony Avery came third with 77+85=163.

Vistory over Buswell, winner for the past two years, was sweet for Buckingham, who has only just returned to Warwick after a spell away. It was his 12th Warwick championship title.

It was a close-fought battle, with Buswell playing the last five holes in one under par and only just missing a birdie putt on the 18th to force a play-off. Buckingham holed a tricky two-foot putt on the 18th to win.

Buswell had some consolation in the form of the Warwick Bowl, shooting 75-7-68 + 78-7-7 = 139 to see off the challenge of Buckingham by three shots (74-5-69 + 78-5-73 = 142). Roy Woolston came third with 92-21-71 + 93-21-72 = 143.

The Presidents Cup proved a keenly fought competition at Kenilworth on Sunday. No fewer than 49 pairs entered with each player receiving a ball at the start with compliments of president Michael Carrick who, along with his wife Sally, received the competitors at the tenth tee for a Caribbean Calypso cocktail and nibbles.

With the course in excellent condition and fast greens the winning pair of Nigel Hancox and Kevan Witts, playing off a team handicap of 9, came in with 42 points.

Daniel Lane and Robert Owens, playing off 8, finished runners-up with 41 points thanks to a better back nine than Thomas Parker and Richard Powell, playing off 9.

Liam Sproul and Jim Ferris, playing off 14, also scored 41 points and took fourth place by virtue of a better back 3.

Brigid Carrington won the second round of the par-bogey competition for the Florence Booth Trophy at Kenilworth, leaving Sue Drew and Teresa Douthwaite in a tie for first place.

These two will now have to play another 18 holes to decide the overall winner.

Around the region Kenilworth ladies have been having success in various open events. Vice captain Lyn Harrison and Alison Seymour Mead played well together to win the Gay Hill Greensomes.

Val Cushing took the prize for best gross in Bronze A in the Warwickshire Vets competition while Liz Brown was the winner of the individual Stableford competition at the Edgbaston Open and Meg Lewis and Jackie Corby formed a very strong pairing to run away with the winning score at the Rugby Open.

The ladies Invitational Team event was a feature at Leamington & County last week, with teams of four made up of two home club players with two invited guests.

The winning quartet was Felicity Carless and Angela Eadon (both Leamington) with Pat Wardle and Ann Dicks (both North Warwickshire), who scored 85 points.

In second place with 81 points were Liz Munton and Mal Williams (both Leamington) with Maureen Clingo and Val Orton (both Harborne) and third were Mavis Dale and Janet Hill (both Leamington) with Ann Saywell and Lyn Harrison (both Kenilworth) who scored 79.

Angela Eadon was the individual star of the day, scoring 46pts.

Also new to the competition list was the nine-hole Centenary Hidden Partners, open to all playing members. Players were drawn to play either the front nine holes or the back nine then a further draw at the end of play created the pairings.

There were separate prizes for each nine. The winning duo on the front nine were Don Stanley and Mick Ward and the back nine was won by Tom Smith and Tina Bruder.

The captain's team had the edge at The Warwickshire on Saturday when they beat the vice-captain's team 11 1/2 to 7 1/2 on the King's Course.

There were some very close matches and as the early starters came in the vice-captain's line-up went ahead.

As the middle matches recorded their results things became more even - at one point the score was 7 1/2 to 7 1/2 - but at the end the result was clear.

The Warwickshire Earls team continued its quest to retain the Avon League Championship by drawing at Purley Chase. Purley Chase 3 Warwickshire Earls 3: Ian Stranks & Steve Kennedy lost 1 down; Mark Williams & Nick Zacharias won 1 up; James Shepherd & Andy Connolly lost 2&1; Simon Franklin & Richard Taylor won 5&4; Nicky Jenkins & Dean Young lost 3&2; Duncan Cooper & Sean Connolly won 7&6.

Competition secretary John Rathbone was the victor in Hellidon Lakes' MBS stableford competion with a very creditable 39pts off a handicap of 17. Chris Marriot was second on countback from Gary Caunt, both on 37pts.

Stoneleigh Deer Park par bogey competition: division one 1 D Secher +3, 2 P Roberts +2; division two 1 D Proctor +5, 2 S Bryan +4; division three 1 D Adams +4, 2 C Vogiaridis; ladies Elaine Ebbage +1.

Stoneleigh's seniors drew 4-4 at friendly hosts Ingon Manor.

Rob West won the Newbold Comyn Rose Bowl at the weekend, carding a round of 89-18-71 to finsing two shots clear of the field.

Andy Rigg was second with 75-7-73 and Gerry Curtis came third on 84-10-74, followed by Colin Baker 85-11-74 and Gary May 88-14-74. Bronze division honours went to Des Gregg with 99-28-71. Ladies' stableford: 1 Sandra Curtis 28pts, 2 Liz McNally 25pts.

Newbold Comyn Senior June Medal and Hall of Fame qualifier: 1 Gren Rooke 92-19-73; 2 Terry Conway 91-18-73; 3 Gerry Curtis 84-10-74, 4 Paul Johnson 94-19-75, 5 Kim Wong 105-28-77.