Last weekend saw the annual President versus Captain Ryder Cup event, where two teams contest a series of match play matches mixing, Greensome, Fourball Better Ball and Singles formats. There were 40 players on each side and a Team Europe, led by Captain Brad Earley, were going for 3 in a row and after the draw was made for pairings on the Friday Night they were feeling very confident. James Clark and his team had done a great job in decorating the Claret Jug with flags and posters and the event got off to a great, if a little boisterous start. Saturday morning saw a bright but chilly start to the event with a heavy dew affecting the greens which still had signs of the dressing from the green maintenance. But the sun soon dried the surfaces and some great golf ensued. The 6 Greensome matches and 14 four ball better balls saw mixed results and the score at the end of day 1 was USA 9.5 and Europe 10.5 so a slender lead to Europe with 40 points on offer in the singles. The players retired for some refreshments followed by an evening meal and banter and the draw for the singles matches. The singles started off with the President versus the Captain and with a win for the President, the scores were level, but this was quickly levelled again in the match between two ex Presidents with Rob Hendry defeating Martin Wainman. There was then a run of wins for the USA team and a half opening up a 3 point lead, but 3 on the trot for Europe closed the gap. It was then nip and tuck with a couple of big wins, one for Gary “Gritter” Pickford who one 7 and 6 for Europe. So it was very close when a half from Daver Hurst over Baby Geoff (Stu Harvey), plus USA wins for Ben Massey, Jack McCallum, Jordan Witt and John Watson, opened a gap again, only to be shut down again when Dave Sherwin, Bob Aston and Joe Price hit back. But a great birdie on the last by Club Champ David “Shamoo’ Edwards for a half against Graham Smalley, stopped the comeback with James Voce, John Wood and Ken Mather gaining 3 more points. With a 2 point lead with with 5 points left to gain, Team USA got 3.5 points in the last 4 matches to win back the Ryder Cup and prevent the 3peat for Europe. The presentation was completed in the Claret, with Captain Brad Eardley handing the trophy over to The President and the celebrations commenced. It has to be said that the matches were played in great spirit as befitting the event and a lot of the matches were close with some great golf out on display including as a Hole in One for Junior Captain, George Holt. He was presented with the hole in one pot, made up of donations from the President, Captain, Vice Captain (Gary Cottiga) and Ex President (Martin Wainman), plus Nigel Edwards (Junior Organiser), Mark Edwards (George’s opponent in the singles ) and Steve Wilde (The Enforcer), shame George lost his point!!! So bragging rights go to Team USA for the next 12 months, but rest assured the battle will be hot again next October.