Ruth’s anniversary win

James Ruth returned to the winner’s circle with another impeccable round in the 125th Anniversary pro-am, at Bristol and Clifton.

The China Fleet trainee won ten times last year to become the leading regional money-winner but he recorded only his second regional pro-am success this year with his four-under-par 66.

He was out in 31 and his fifth birdie followed at the tenth. His only blemish was at the difficult 16th where the approach to an elevated green above a chasm is always tricky. As usual many players dropped shots there.

Former PGA champion Scott Drummond was among them but made five birdies to finish two shots adrift on 68, alongside Charlie Cossins (Ogborne Downs). He picked up four shots in three holes from the ninth with an eagle two on the 338-yard tenth when he pitched in.

Matt Dearden (Cardiff) also produced his best form for a while to join the runners-up. He recovered from a double bogey at the short seventh but followed with four birdies and was three-under 33 on the back nine. Mendip’s Kevin Pitts, who has been having illness problems, produced his best return for two years to finish fifth on 69 in only his second outing of the season.

Louis Boston (Windmill Hill) and Toby Hunt (St Mellons) shared sixth. Henry Pallas (Upavon) was derailed on the par four 12th when he took eight after standing on the tee at three-under-par. He slipped back to eighth equal with Kevin Harper (East Devon) who also double-bogeyed the par three seventh.

Cossins led the winning team on 14-under-par 86 followed by Dearden’s Total Triumph Taunton trio on 85 with Hunt’s Capital Group Ltd crew carding 83 to beat the club chairman’s team led by Pyle and Kenfig trainee Huw Williams on countback.