FIVE monthly stableford competitions in Ross Golf Club's winter programme have provided male members with the incentive to compete for the club's first major event in 2016 when the Annual Barnfield Trophy takes place in early March.

Played off the club's shortened yellow course, the top 12 performers from each monthly competition qualify for the final, and the fourth winter stableford event witnessed 91 players taking part.

On a difficult day for good scoring, 14-handicapper Tony Biggs with 39 points was not only the best performer but he repeated the success in the first Winter Stableford in October last year by topping handicap Division 1.

He was followed in Division 1 by fellow qualifiers Colin Gladwyn, Steve Wallbank and Peter Bennett with 38 points each, Keith New and Mick Merrick with 37 points, Matthew Hillier and Robert Lerigo with 36 points.

This enabled Craig Newman's 35 points and Chris Good's 34 points to also qualify.

Handicap Division 2 was headed by Geoff Baker with 38 points followed by fellow qualifiers Mark Oldale, Richard Moore, Steve Bartholomew and Harold Beach with 37 points each.

This enabled Bill Johnston's 35 points to be the sixth qualifier as John Sherahilo, who also carded 35 points, had already qualified.

In the annual seniors winter pairs competition, in which 36 pairs are taking part and which finishes in March, the latest league table suggests an exciting and closely fought contest.

Three pairings - Ian Caves/Barry Norton, David Peacock/Phil Corcoran and Mike Lawrence/Tim Lewis - have 13 points each, followed by Bill Cansdale and Roger Morgan with 12 points, although with some pairs still have several matches in hand, meaning the leading group can still be caught.