The first Order of Merit event of 2026 concluded at Alenda where there was a significant twist to one of the divisions. This trimestre saw a record 207 different players compete across 11 games (98 in Div 1 & 109 in Div 2) and the 'cut-off' handicap for Division 2 was 18.5, with anyone lower being in the Division 1 category. A total of 50 players managed to complete the full 4 qualifying games with 23 managing to hit the maximum 6 game tally & a further 11 managing 5 games.
Division 2 was a totally different story to Division 1 with all the podium places changing on the last day of the event. Henrik Tonnisen's 139pts was leading going into he last game but despite only having 5 rounds scoring he could not play. Two of his opponents that were plating at Alenda could however still improve, and that they did. Liz McReynolds' 6th qualifying game took her to 142 pts but that only proved good enough for second as congratulations go to our Division 2 champion Diane Nicholls who scored 144 points, despite only playing 5 qualifying games.
Scoring 40+ points proved a greater challenge this trimestre with only 5 players making the 40's club and the top score being 42 points by Ellert Austmann at La Finca. There were also only: 2 scores of 41 points and 2 scores of 40 points