The fifth Irish Times Lexus Golf Challenge was completed over the weekend at Mount Juliet where Davy Stockbrokers earned the right to have their name engraved on the splendid winners trophy, now won on three occasions by stockbroking firms. MMI were the winners on two previous occasions.

Once again the competition was played out under ideal conditions on a splendidly prepared Mount Juliet course, the players enjoying their rounds in particularly benign October weather. Davy, who returned a score of 87 points from the four man team, in which the two best scores counted at each hole, edged out An Post and last year's winners Oliver Freany and Co into second and third place respectively, both chasing teams returning scores of 85 points.

An Post secured the runners-up spot with a better score on the back nine with a 41 against Oliver Freany's 39. Once again a number of players in the competition drew from sporting success in other fields.

The Davy team of Tom Bean (14), Paddy Canning (18), Barry Nangle (14) and Eamon Burke (11), perhaps playing a low risk strategy, illustrated how to maximise returns, their card showing that all four players contributed to the scoring.

Malahide golfer and former UCD soccer and Gaelic footballer, Nangle scored on 13 of the holes with Knockanally's Bean and The Island's Burke, who was a goalkeeper on the Dublin hurling team in the mid-90s, coming in on eight of the holes.

Canning, also a Malahide member, contributed to the scoring on seven of the holes. Bean, who suppressed the anxieties connected with the impending birth of his first child is no stranger to the winner's podium.

Along with his wife Patricia, the pair collected the Husband and Wife classic played out in Ballybunion in April. It is the first time Davy have won the Irish Times Lexus trophy since its inception in 1995.

Over 35 different organisations have played in the final stages since the competition began, with Aer Rianta and An Post both making it through to the Mount Julliet finals on four occasions.

Maeve Donovan, General Sales & Marketing director of the Irish Times, presented the prizes to the three leading teams at a post-match reception in the clubhouse. "The Irish Times has had a long commitment to sport," said Ms Donovan. "It was in this vein in association with Lexus that we decided to launch the corporate challenge and the interest in the event has continued to grow."

Another strong GAA connection was evident in the individual events. Ericsson's Anthony Cunningham, a former top county hurling player with Galway, won the prize for the longest drive on the 18th with BDM Chartered Accountant, John MacEvilly, claiming the prize for the nearest to the pin.

An Post, with Con Kennedy (11), Ger Long (10) and Paul Doolin (13) will probably be grateful to Kevin Corry, their seven handicap player. Corry, who was actually the lowest in the field, scored on eight holes on the back nine and four on the front nine for an enviable personal contribution.