A CONSISTENT round including two birdies on the front nine holes helped Kingsley Matthews clinch the first honours of the season at Ross Golf Club.

The annual Barnfield Trophy stableford event saw 53 members compete in the final after qualifying during the winter months.

For Matthews it was certainly a day to remember as his consistent round saw him score 44 points score, equivalent to him playing seven shots better than his 18 handicap seeing him take victory on count-back.

He was pushed all the way by teenager Leo Powell, a 27 handicapper and one of the Ross Club's emerging junior players, who matched Matthews' 44 points total and also captured two birdies in his remarkable front nine holes total of 27 points.

Matthews paid tribute to his two playing companions on the day who helped him to maintain focus after an outstanding front nine holes yielded 25 points.

Their encouragement resulted in Matthews making fewer mistakes over the final holes to get him across the finishing line in top spot.

Other good scores on the day were achieved by Ross Jenkins, Stuart Smith, David Morris all with 40 points and John Sherahilo, Andy Reeves, Club Chairman Peter Lawrence and Nigel Yates with 39 points followed by the 38 points of Stephen Forrest, husband of Sarah who finished with a creditable 33 points total.

Ross Golf Club recently welcomed Cirencester for an annual friendly match between the two clubs.

Visiting player Mike Staples hit a hole in one at the Ross club's pond 12th par three hole despite losing his match.

Ross took victory on the day with 6.5 points to 1.5 points.

There was further cause for celebration recently for Seniors Vice Captain Colin Price and his partner Charlie Walker when they defeated Tim Rigden and David Mason in the final of the Seniors 2018/19 Winter Pairs competition which means it will be their names engraved on the Patrick Curtis Shield when the presentation takes place later this year.

In a very close game played in the right spirit, Rigden and Mason appeared to be in the driving seat when they were two holes up after 13 holes.

However, Price and Walker were not to be outdone with the latter bravely holing a 12 foot putt on the 18th green to send the match into extra holes.

The match was decided on the 19th green with Walker again playing a key role.