The latest major competition in Ross Golf Club’s annual programme for its men members was the Traders Cup, one of its longest standing and steeped in history, having been initiated by the many and varied traders who once dominated the Wye Valley scene.

The event’s importance and relevance was upgraded three years ago so that the winner now emerges after 36 holes of nett medal play. In round one, 5 handicapper Simon Mills demonstrated his capabilities with a highly accomplished gross 72 net 67 scorecard to build a 2 shots advantage from a chasing pack, represented by Steve Gwilliam and Phil Mcfarlane’s nett 69 scores and nett 70’s by Antony Graham and 16 year old Ross Junior, Jaydn Decloedt.

In the second round, the dedicated practice and exuberance of youth were to prevail over the more experienced counterparts and 11 handicapper Jaydn Decloedt, with a net 67 round and combined 137 score, provided the talented youngster with his first major win at the Ross Club, which includes coveted honours board recognition. Jaydn remembers being introduced to golf by his grandfather when he was 4 years old, joining the Gorsley based Ross Club when he was 8 years old with a 36 handicap. Becoming a pupil at John Kyrle High School subsequently introduced him to the delights of rugby football resulting in Jaydn becoming a consistent performer in Juniors Rugby with Ross Rugby Club.

It has been during 2018, that his golf has become alive, thanks to the coaching programmes and ’continuous improvement’ culture provided by the Ross Club’s Head Professional Tim Hall and his School of Golf structure. Jaydn now becomes a single figure 9 handicapper with the real prospect of further advancement.

In fact, the final combined score-sheet for the Traders Cup showed a Ross Juniors ’one-two’ as fellow Junior, 16 year old Rhys McGinley, orchestrated his best competitive 18 holes ever with a gross 83, net 63 and a combined 141 score which catapulted him to the runners-up spot, just 4 shots shy of Jaydn.

Rhys’ remarkable weekend of golf started with him winning the Ross Juniors Annual Alfred Kitchen Cup when his gross 88 net 67 medal round just edged Ross Juniors Captain, 5 handicapper Liam Greig into 2nd place as he completed a nett 69 round. This meant Rhys witnessed a 6 shots handicap reduction almost overnight as he improved to 15.

Rhys is a pupil at Dene Magna School in Mitcheldean with himself and Jaydn having been given marvellous starts at the Ross Club in their shared objectives to become the ’best that they can be’ both in golf and in life.

This left a trio of 5 handicappers just short of a winning total; Tim Wyatt and Simon Mills with combined 142’s, Robin Eckley with 143 followed by Antony Graham, also with a 143 total.