PROVING that improvement can come at any age Ben Smith beat testing conditions to win the Senior Men (over 60) annual Keene Cup.

Since joining the Ross Golf Club four years ago Smith has improved thanks to the club's Tim Hall School of Golf development programmes.

As a 28 handicapper he came third in the 2017 Ernest Penn Cup followed by another third place finish a few weeks later in the net category of the annual Seniors Championship medal.

However on this occasion Smith hit a consistent stableford round including six pars which yielded an impressive points 42 total to claim the top spot and make him the Club's 2018 Keene Cup Champion.

He can also reflect meaningfully upon the six shots improvement his endeavours and will be playing off a 22 handicap.

Another improving high handicapper Peter Jenkins pushed Smith to the limit to finish runner-up with 41 stableford points. He was followed by a clutch of 38 pointers represented by Robin Henderson-Pugh, Alastair Ross and 2017 Seniors Champion nine handicapper Robin Darling with Allen Mawby, Peter Smith, Tim Fewell in close pursuit with 37 points each.

They were followed by Les Buchanan, John Palmer, Geoff Baker, Scott Thomson, Colin Price, Tom Haskett, David Beavan and Club President Doug Duncanson who all carded 36 points each.