THE 36 hole matches to decide Ross Golf Club’s Club's ladies and men's champions took centre stage on finals day, reports KEITH RAY.

Former club junior captain Sophie Price took on former club captain Sally Fycun in the ladies final, with the two evenly matched in terms of World Handicap Indexes.

As Sophie had celebrated Ross ladies champion status on four previous occasions, the last in 2023, she clearly held the initiative in terms of experience, and so it proved on the day, with the players shaking hands on the 33rd hole with the former five up.

The men's final featured two players making their final debut, so a new name on the trophy was assured.

Tom Shotton, a 1.5 handicapper, faced 5.8 handicap Marcus McEvoy on a scratch basis, which made the former a firm favourite.

Although both players only joined Ross three years ago, Tom was returning to the Gorsley-based club where he had played 13 years ago, so this may have helped him cope with the occasion.

Tom settled quickly and after 18 holes enjoyed a three up advantage, which proved decisive with their encounter finishing on the 32nd green with him five up.

He now joins Simon Sharpe – Ross club champion in 2018 – to enjoy bragging rights of being champion at both the Gorsley-based cub and the Upton Bishop-based South Herefordshire Golf Club.

At the presentation ceremony the same evening, Tom also collected the MacLean Cup, a pairs knock-out competition in which he was partnered by Jordan Hughes, another player who began his golf 10 years ago at Ross as an aspiring junior player.

Tom and Jordan also found themselves as opponents in the semi-final of the 2025 club championship, which the former edged 2/1 before going on to win the final.