Ross Golf Club’s third Winter Stableford competition was played in acceptable winter conditions from yellow tees recently. Ninety men took part and the event provided the opportunity for a further 12 players to qualify for the Club’s annual Barnfield Trophy Final.

This is the first major of the 2018 season, which will ultimately be contested by 60 players in March and will now include the defending 2017 Barnfield Champion, Tim Lewis. His 38 points total in the third round of five rounds was enough to gain qualification and see his handicap undertake a one shot reduction to 17.

Not for the first time of late, the day’s key performers to contest the top spot were 18 handicapper, Antony Graham, and 13 handicapper, Richard Tromans.

In December they hit the headlines in the Club’s men’s Christmas Fayre event, with Antony’s 47 stableford points just getting the better of Richard’s 45 points, enabling both to take home some worthwhile fayre, finishing second and third respectively.

This time there was a mere one point differential; with Antony’s 40 points giving him top place and Richard having to settle for the runners-up position with 39 points.

Antony only joined the Ross Club in March 2017, so he will be delighted to have adapted his game so quickly to cope with their tree-lined course and find his current consistency, having also played solidly in the second Winter Stableford in November. Clearly the prospect of an exciting 2018 golfing season would appear to await him.

Both Antony and Richard saw their handicaps reduced by one shot, and as Richard had already qualified in a previous round, the six players to qualify on this occasion from Handicap Division 1 were; Philip Taylor 39 points, Club President Doug Duncanson and Bob Baker with 38 points each, and Graham White, Derek Hancock and Philip Thompson, all with 37 points.

From the Handicap Division 2 players joining Antony Graham and Tim Lewis in qualifying for the March shoot-out, are; Chris Tweedale 38 points and 37 points scorers Andrew Lloyd, Adrian Berry and another in-form player Tim Kefalas.