Marron, the reigning champion, was ruled ineligible for not playing in the seeded draw in the last round. This is a stipulation for eligibility to win the title.

Times golf correspondent Graham Gibson reported in his Over the Fence column in Wednesday's Times that Marron arrived at the course an hour after the seeded players started their round at 11.25. He claimed he had been informed by 'someone' in the pro shop that his tee time was 12.30.

Marron would have retained the championship by 13 shots had his appeal to the golf club committee been upheld. He won A-grade last Saturday with a 67 net, three under par.

It is believed that this is the first time in the club's history that dates back nearly 100 years that the championship has been decided in this manner.