The OEGS met the Eastbourne College Common Room team at Royal Eastbourne GC for our annual fixture on a glorious summer Sunday afternoon, weather which seems to have become the norm for this fixture.

The OEGS team was looking for revenge after last year’s sound defeat and our lead-off pairing of Claire Patterson-Snell and Tony Dunn got us off to a good start, winning on the last hole 1 up, with Claire repeating the trick she pulled off two years ago by draining a long putt to sink the hopes of the CR duo of David Price and Alex Wingfield-Digby. However, that was to be our high point. We put out a strong pairing of Iryna Photiou and George Pepper second, the latter just returned for the holidays from studying golf management at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida and playing off an intimidating handicap of plus 2. However, despite Iryna’s usual straight and steady play and George’s spectacular long driving (coming within 100 yards of the green on the 494-yard par-5 4th), the wily CR team of Matt McVeigh and Sam Mason came away winners 4&2.

Veteran pairing David Dunn and Jo Grey teed up next, a welcome return to REGC for Jo, who is back from a troublesome shoulder injury. After a ding-dong battle, the OEGS team lost on the 15th hole 3&2, despite Jo being the only one on that green off the tee – hopes were dashed by an impressive chip-in from Chris Howe, who was teamed with Matt Minister, a welcome addition from St Andrew’s to our annual fixture.

Match manager Ian Henley teed up with his brother Peter in the anchor pairing, knowing they had their work cut out against 2 sports stars, former England hockey player Rob Hill and recent addition to the College staff Charlie Watt, a graduate of the University Campus of Football Business at Wembley Stadium. Charlie, only an occasional player, played out of his skin and dovetailed neatly with the ever-reliable Rob to see off the Henley Bros 8&6, possibly an all-time worse drubbing in OEGS history. I would present my resignation from the Committee in disgrace if I found anyone to take it on :-).

So the OEGS went down 1-3 to the Common Room but we were all able to reflect on another beautiful day in the sunshine and a game played, as always, in great spirits. My thanks to both teams, particularly to those who had travelled many miles to be with us. Onwards and upwards…

Ian Henley