Ross Golf Cub’s Annual Ernest Penn Trophy stableford competition for their men Seniors members witnessed the welcome return to the fold of 13 handicapper Jim Wilkinson (pictured) after a six-week medical break.

Playing at the crack of dawn in the first three ball, and having had the time while away to forget that golf can be difficult, Jim played with a sense of freedom and measured abandon to post an impressive 40 points total, which could not be matched by any of the 91 members that followed in his wake.

Jim can now look forward to the Club’s Trophy Presentation evening in September together with an honours board acknowledgement and playing off a reduced 12 handicap.

Steve Bartholomew, with 39 points, was runner up followed by Chris Kenny and John Hartle, with 38 points each, Hugh Elliott, with 37 points, and a host of 36 pointers, represented by John Palmer, Eric Stephens, Don Meek, Nigel Gibbs, Brian Bethell and Mike Bradburn.

The third round of the Club’s Layton Cup, also for men seniors players and played a few days later benefited the early starters. This included 11 handicapper Peter Bennett, his 40 stableford points haul saw his name finish at the top of the event’s leader board, with 60 players taking part.

Peter takes a one-shot handicap reduction, as does 18 handicapper Steve Bartholomew, who was again runner up thanks to his 38 points total, followed by Phil Wilson, Arthur Reid and Cec Wheatstone, with 37 points and Seniors Captain David Williams, with 36 points.

The 2016 Cup winner will ultimately be decided by his best three rounds in a six-round competition and, although it is early days, the current leader is Arthur Reid with 106 points, followed by Bill Knapper with 102 points, Martin Johnson with 101 points and Colin Price with 99 points.

The competition also produces a cup for the best eclectic performer in the six rounds on a medal basis, and David Whitehead with nett 75 leads this score-sheet followed by Ian Caves, Peter Bennett and Martin Johnson with nett 76s.