Ross Golf Club's first Summer Medal Competition of the 2010 season, the Lombard Trophy, took place in virtual winter conditions but this failed to deter the 119 members who took part.
In the 2009 event, 19 handicapper Mike Talty, was delighted to have topped the final results table. This meant that he was ultimately able to partner the Ross Club's Professional, Paul Middleton, when they represented the Ross Club in an area final of the Lombard Trophy at the prestigious Little Aston Golf Course in Birmingham.
Mike and Paul can look forward to another Area Final, following Mike's impressive gross 88, net 69 medal score in the 2010 event, and which proved just enough to enable him to repeat his previous year's success.
On the day, Mike's consistent driving off the tee was key. He managed to find 17 of the 18 fairways, and with a long putt on the 18th green, this proved crucial too, as runner-up 12 handicapper Bill Day only missed out on the top spot on count-back, also recording a net 69 score.
If there had been a prize for the best gross score in the competition, it would have been awarded to Nick Ellis, who plays off a 2 handicap, and who carded a hard earned gross 76, to illustrate the degree of difficulty in the competition's playing conditions.
Simon Buck scored a net 71, and it was inevitable that the Club's highly talented group of youngsters would feature. Alex Bain, also managed a net 71 and Ross Jenkins and Jake Howells with net 72s. Other net 72s included Dave Sidnell and Chris Tweedale, and there were net 73s for Danny Gear, Bruce Marshall, Stan Beale, Chris Wilkinson, Paul Meddings and Shaun Sturge.
On the 2010 Match front, the Ross Golf Club 'A' Team have chosen to return to the competitive arena of the North Gloucestershire Foursomes League, under the Captaincy of Nic Pomeroy.
This format should certainly suit the Club's crop of aspiring youngsters and create the ideal environment for their development and personal growth, and the squad will open their account on May 1st, when they entertain their Puckrup Golf Club counterparts.
For the Club's 2010 programme of friendly matches, this has brought about the merger of the Club's former 'B' and 'C' teams and the emergence of a Ross Social Team. This is being looked after by team skipper Clive Whitson.
In their inaugural match, they were privileged to visit the Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club, although unfortunately the team was unable to mark the occasion with a celebration victory. On the day, they had to settle for second-best with a 4 points to 2 points defeat.
The winning points were provided by Geoff Thomas/Terry Jarrett 2/1 and Nick Swan/Bob Timms 1 up, with those who were unable to contribute positively but delighted to have taken part, being Clive Whitson/Eric Snape, Danny Gear/Dave Ruff, Kevin D'Lonra/Dave Pragnell and Peter Chapman/Paul Reynaert.