IN DIFFICULT conditions Shaun Reynolds used his driving ability to good effect to take victory in the Ross Golf Club annual Gordon Blake Cup.

The event for the club's men members was played in testing conditions with 109 entrants taking part.

It was 12 handicapper Reynolds whose play enabled him to cope most effectively on the day.

With two birdies in his front nine holes when he had dropped just four shots to par, he finished in fine style scoring five pars in his last six holes.

Reynolds' gross 81 medal score, net 69 round, gave him a one shot advantage and his first major success at the Ross Club since moving from the Belmont Abbey GC in Hereford five years ago.

The chasing pack was headed by 2017 Club Champion 18 year-old Cam Haines, who plays off a two handicap, and he had to settle for the runners-up spot with a gross par 72, net 70 round which included four birdies.

Haines has been in fine form of late enjoying a top three finish when he took part in the Glos Golfing Union's opening Duchess Salver Order of Merit event at Long Ashton Golf Club in Bristol.

Peter Bennett and Steve Crooks shared third place in the Gordon Blake Cup with net 71's to both lose one shot from their handicaps and they were followed by net 72's scored by Andrew Lloyd, Tim Fewell and Robin Darling and net 73's by Tom Packham, Tim Wyatt and Stuart Smith.

Net 74 scorers included Richard Tromans, Murray Thomson, Kevin Powell, Bryan Davis and Graham White.