Ross Golf Club's series of monthly mixed winter stableford competitions, from which ultimately emerges the winner of the Club's 2025 honors' board Barnfield Trophy continued its dynamic of being spread over 2 days to accommodate the numbers involved and which includes both men and ladies' sections.

The final qualifying competition in the series took place recently involving 111 players and means that the top 20 performers from each of the 3 events played has resulted in a 60 player start-sheet to contest for the Trophy title on March 29th.In the last mixed Winter Stableford qualifier, the golf course witnessed an outstanding performance by Stuart Mair, who finished No 1 on the final score-sheet with an impressive 42 points total.

His victory wasn’t just a stroke of luck – it was the result of dedication, hard work, and a commitment to improving his game through regular coaching with the Ross Club's PGA professional, Zach Galliford.Stuart has been a familiar face at the Club's Men’s Coaching Coffee Mornings, a relaxed and social environment where golfers of all levels come together to learn, practice, and connect.

These sessions, led by Zach, have become a cornerstone of Stuart’s improvement journey. By combining expert instruction with the camaraderie of like-minded golfers, Stuart has not only sharpened his skills but also found a community that shares his passion for the game.Reflecting on his win, Stuart said, “The regular coaching sessions with Zach have been a game-changer for me. It’s not just about the lessons – it’s about building a consistent approach to learning and ultimately improvement. The coffee mornings are a fantastic way to learn in a fun, social setting, and I’ve made some great friends along the way.”

Stuart returned to golf at the Gorsley based tree-lined Ross Course just two years ago, having been a cricketing stalwart with Ross Cricket Club for many years, now enabling him to combine his active interest in both sports. During the summer months he can be found Umpiring cricket matches at various cricket grounds around the West Midlands. Stuart's Umpiring aspirations are to be promoted to the Cricket's Umpires National League panel and then who knows where that could take him.

Another in-form player Robin Looms again excelled to finish runner-up to Stuart with an impressive 40 points total followed by 2 handicapper Alex Duncanson whose 37 points total round included an eagle and 3 birdies. There were creditable 36 point performances by Alec Osborn, Anthony Jenkins, Geoff Walsh, Nick Rawlings and Phil Andrews and 35 points totals by Nigel Fullerton and David Dockray.

Former Ross Juniors Captain in 2016 and 4-times Ladies Champion, Sophie Price has already made her mark in qualifying for the Barnfield Trophy as Sophie now a 7.4 handicap player will be the sole representative from the Club's Ladies section.