ROGER Morgan is one step closer to finally getting his hands on the Barnfeld Trophy after coming top in Division Two of Ross Golf Club's latest winter stableford competition.

Morgan was unfortunate not to have won the title earlier this year after finishing runner-up to former junior captain Niall Powell, who is now undertaking a five-year golf scholarship in Iowa, USA.

After scoring 38 points in his first stableford in October, Morgan produced another good round, with his 41 points resulting in him finishing top of of the Division Two qualifiers and a one-handicap reduction to 16.

Other qualifiers were Norman Lodge (38 points), Graham Jell and Bob Cook (both 37), Gary Moyle (36) and Kingsley Matthews and David Higdon (both 35).

Colin Price also impressed with 37 points having qualified in the first winter stableford, but Bill Knapper just missed out with 35.

In Division One, Peter Bennett scored 43 stableford points, the equivalent of seven shots better than his official handicap.

With a consistent round, which included 10 pars and two birdies, Bennett moves one shot closer to becoming a single handicap player.

He was pressed hard by 13 handicappers Murray Thomson and Peter Chapman, who both enjoyed impressive scores of 42 points.

The remaining players to qualify for next March were Shaun Reynolds (40 points) and Jonathon McGinley and Tony Biggs, who both scored 39.

Other results

Burghill Valley GC, Seniors' Betterball Pairs Strokeplay: 1 R Cleves and G Roberts: 65pts, 2 S Morgan and C Shepherd 66 (after cb), 3 C Harris and J Clark 66 (after cb).

Herefordshire GC, Turkey Trot Texas Scramble: 1 Glyn Biffen, Neil Walters, Fintan Butler and Dave Gwynne 54.9nett, 2 Ron East, John Lucas, Terry Webb and Ray Bayliss 56.7, 3 Steve Campbell, Andrew Powell, Adam Herbert and Ken Baker 56.9; Ladies' 13 hole November Stableford, Division 1: 1 Jan Preece 17pts, 2 Pat Millington 16, Division 2: 1 Anna Powell 18pts, 2 Jenny Cooke 17, Division 3 1. Gill Broadhead 26pts, 2. Pat Gibbons 15pts.

Kington GC, Ladies' Annual Meeting and Prizegiving, Division 1: 1 Pip Frost 22pts, 2 Teresa Godbert 18, Division 2: 1 Audrey Philpott 25pts, 2 Toinette Davies 22, Division 3: 1 Hermione Evans 22pts, 2 Mandy Jones 20.