Ross Golf Club’s third Mixed Winter Stableford competition was well supported by 85 members from all sections in a series of five competitions taking place throughout the winter. The top 12 performers from each event qualify to compete for the annual Barnfield Trophy on March 28, from which the winner will emerge of the Club’s opening honours board major of the 2020 season.

This proved an occasion for the lower handicap players to show their metal, with five handicapper, Paul Meek’s 40 points score-card representing a master-class including three birdies and just four dropped shots as he completed his more challenging finishing nine holes in one under gross par.

Having featured strongly in the first qualifier last November when he scored 39 points to take a one shot handicap reduction, Paul’s play is in a good place.

Steve Woods and Ross Jenkins with 38 points each and Jon Matthews with 36 points all booked their places in the final shoot-out. 25 handicapper and former Ross Club captain, Fred Stott, proved something of an exception in surprising himself and his countless friends in capturing 38 points to finish in third place. In reducing his handicap by one shot, Fred showed that the Ross Club’s ‘Continuous Improvement’ culture can apply to all comers, including septuagenarians.

14 handicapper, Mark Moore, with an impressive 39 points, was runner-up with 20 handicapper, Bruce Richardson, also starring with 37 points. Members of the Gorsley based club for the past 12 months, they have quickly adapted their play to the course’s unique 18 tree-lined holes environment.

Simon Buck and Gary Moyle with 37 points, Stephen Gregory with 36 points and Richard Moore, Jason Gale and Shaun Sturge all with 35 points were other qualifiers. Ross Senior, Tim Lewis, with 36 points has not only qualified in all three Barnfield Trophy qualifiers to date but was also one of the few taking part to benefit through scoring a birdie two.

11 handicapper Sally Fycun was the best of the female bunch which included Jennifer Gladwyn and the club’s Academy Junior Members Rhian McGinley and Abbie Bishop.