AN UPTON Bishop golfer who is currently completing a scholarship in America returned home to clinch the annual 'blue ribbon' event at Ross Golf Club.

The Mike Lane Trophy is played over 36 holes on a gross medal basis for handicap category division 1 men members.

It was therefore timely that the competition's two rounds played on separate days coincided with the temporary return to club ranks of 21 year-old scratch golfer Niall Powell having recently successfully completed his first two years of a Golf Scholarship at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, USA.

After the first 18 holes the score-sheet was headed by five handicapper Simon Mills with a gross 72 round closely followed by Ross Juniors Captain, Liam Greig with 73 and Powell being well placed at 74.

However Greig was unable to take part in the second round due to a clash with the Gloucestershire County Boys Annual Championship.

In the second round Powell recorded a one under par gross 71 so that his combined 36 holes medal score of 145 meant that Simon Mills with a combined 151 had to settle for the runners-up spot six shots behind with Tim Wyatt in third place on 152.

Powell is preparing to return to the United States in August having been accepted for a two years International Competitive Scholarship at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.