The latest major men’s event in Ross-on-Wye Golf Club’s calendar, the annual Gordon Blake Cup/County Medal, attracted 112 players and the degree of difficulty on the Club’s tree-lined course was reflected in the standard scratch score registering at 75 against the course’s par 72 status.

While most of the Club’s Handicap 1 players suffered, this did not include 19 year old Niall Powell whose gross 72, nett 70 medal round won him the Cup to add to his winning of another major, the Barnfield Trophy in March when he recorded a sub-par round of nett 71.

Mark Oldale excelled with a nett 71 score to finish runner-up and see his handicap move to 14 with David Higdon, Bob Baker and Andy Crispe carding nett 72’s to lose shots to their handicap and in the case of David, a 2 shots reduction.

Philip Dancey was a nett 73 scorer followed by Dave Daniels & Elwyn Hamer, both currently enjoying good form with nett 74’s. There was a host of nett 75’s represented by Peter Chapman, David Whitehead, Stephen Forrest, Chris Good, Keith New and 16 years old Cam Haines. Cam, who plays off a 5 handicap is one of the Club’s aspiring Juniors Academy players and is looking forward to his first year in the Club’s A Team squad taking part in foursomes matches at Division 1 level in the North Gloucestershire League.