The Challenge XVIII

The doom-laden weather forecasts from earlier in the week were a thankfully distant memory as, appropriately, 18 of us lined up on a coolish but fair morning for the 18th consecutive playing of this now traditional season closing event. The earlier starters lined up for a team photo on the first tee:

The top match was between Malcolm and Raymond, representing Scotland, and this year's Quaich winner Harry, partnered by Syd, with Scotland coming out on top by the surprisingly high margin of 5 & 4. The next two matches had to be 3-balls so I had to devise a system of matchplay that would be fair to both teams - and each of the participants. Two Scots - Keith and me - played Rob, whilst Dick faced Nigel and John W, who was hastily transferred (under duress) to the R.o.W. team at the last minute. Individual stableford scores were the basis, with the 2-man team aggregates divided by two. Both Keith and I struggled to play the same holes well and, standing on the 15th tee, Rob was 3 holes up and hoping to be able to walk in victorious at the Doo'cot. It wasn't to be, with Keith and I winning the last 4 holes to narrowly take the match for Scotland by just one hole. Subsequently, Keith queried whether we could have "done a Nicklaus" and conceded Rob's tricky downhill 6 foot putt so that the match was tied - but too late. After all, this was at stake:

Nigel and John W didn't have as much trouble in their match, comfortably beating Dick by 4 & 3. The last 2 matches were mixed - and married - fourballs. The Sharps beat the McWhinnies 2 up - not that John and Joan, having to represent R.o.W., were too disappointed. The final match between the Moirs (for Scotland) and the Riches (R.o.W.) was interesting as, normally, both Lynda and Jackie would have been playing for the opposite side from their husbands, but, in the interests of marital bliss, on this occasion they had to go over to the dark side. It was reported that Lynda played fantastically well, with two net eagles and a few birdies, so Scotland won this match 5 & 3, so taking the overall score to 4 matches to 1 in Scotland's favour. After lunch, most of the winning team (minus Raymond) lined up on the steps outside for the team photo:

The overall result since 2004 now reads Scotland 12, R.o.W. 6.