Kemnay wins Ryder Cup Challenge

Grampian golf club Kemnay secured a victory on away turf by defeating Brora in the final of the ClubGolf Ryder Cup Challenge at The Nairn Golf Club.

The teams of four, each representing their respective ClubGolf regions, had come through stiff competition in matchplay qualifying to reach the grand finale. Brora had beaten off the challenge of Aigas and Strathpeffer over the summer, while Kemnay’s route to Nairn saw them overcome Alford, Stonehaven and Peterculter.

The regional competitions were open to all volunteer coaches of ClubGolf clubs and organised by Highlands and Grampian ClubGolf regional managers Willie MacKay and Audra Booth.

The event was organised as a ‘thank you’ from ClubGolf for all of the work being done at a regional level by volunteers to encourage the development of grassroots golf. Its volunteer workforce is invaluable to the ClubGolf programme, without which the progress being made to introduce more children to the sport would be impossible

“The match taking place on the same date that the singles matches will be played next year to determine who wins the 2014 Ryder Cup made it all the more special.”

With one pair from each club playing foursomes and the other fourball betterball, it was always likely scoring would be tight. While a late surge from Brora in the fourball betterball secured a hard-fought draw and half-point, an earlier one-hole victory for Kemnay ensured the inaugural Ryder Cup Challenge spoils would belong to Grampian.

Delighted by a victory for Kemnay and, in turn, her region, Booth said: “It was a fantastic day. The coaches thoroughly enjoyed themselves, even though a few nerves were evident on the first tee.”

“This has been a really successful competition and the Grampian vs Highland match taking place on the same date that the singles matches will be played next year to determine who wins the 2014 Ryder Cup made it all the more special

Kemnay’s winning team

Pictured above, from left to right: Billy Bell; Liam Macdonald-Macleod; George Duncan (with the runners-up trophy); Marlene Bokas (with the Highland ClubGolf Coaches Ryder Cup Challenge Cup), all Brora Golf Club; Karen Scott (with the Grampian ClubGolf Coaches Ryder Cup Challenge Cup); Richard Temple (with the winner trophy for the Grampian Vs. Highland Final); Scott Langlands; Scott Knox, all Kemnay Golf Club.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor