OC Golf report 17th June 2025

Public Schools Plate Putting Competition at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, 

Monday 9th June 2025 

As this was the Plate event for those recently demoted from the main event, there was no pressure of relegation. Our team for the day was, in number order, Bertie Mills (SH 2014), Anuj Anand (HG 1986), David Rose (WG 2003) & Alex Edwards (HG 2010). There were only 7 teams involved, and one pulled out. Overall, not a great showing with only Anuj achieving a win ratio of over 50%. David came next winning three and losing three. We ended the day 5th out of 7. Glenalmond won the event on the last hole of the last match. 

     Plate scores

The Putting Team

Senior Darwin – Tuesday & Wednesday 10-11th June 2025 at Woking Golf Club 

1st Round v Clifton 

Howard Olivere (NG 1966) and Mark Walton (FG 1971) led us off, and although our opponents had a very poor morning, we were on fire! Starting on the 15th, we won the first 7 holes! We were only about one over par gross after 9 holes, before closing out the match comfortably 7&6. Second pair was Peter Langrish-Smith (MG 1970) and Gerald Wingrove (NG 1967), we played a poor match missing fairways and failing to hole any significant putts. Clifton played well paring most holes which resulted as bad a loss as the first pairs was good. Graham Dunbar (MG 1970) and Ian Chamberlain (CH 1968) went out third. In particular we had an extraordinary 5th hole (the first on the card) where both pairs drove the par 4 green which Clifton won with a 30 foot eagle putt whereas the OCs missed a difficult 6 footer for the half. In the end Highgate gained the upper hand thanks to steady driving from Ian and some good iron approaches from Graham and held on to win 3 & 2. 

2nd Round v Eton 

An unfortunate development for Eton as one of their players had to withdraw due to illness; Gerald and Ian stood down for the OCs but we had a point on the board before starting. Howard and Mark led us off again in the PM. We started poorly, not helped when Eton chipped in from the heather on the par three second hole, with our tee shot sitting comfortably in the middle of the green. We recovered well to sit all square after nine holes, but gave the lead back and were two down with three holes to play. We won the tricky par three 16th with a good par. We were then gifted the 17th as Eton missed a short putt for a half. Suddenly, and surprisingly, we were all square on the 18th tee. On the treacherous green, both teams had massive putts up two tiers, with the pin top left, almost in the car park! Eton left their first putt short, feeding back onto the middle tier. Mark then hit a superb long putt onto the top tier, but still left a nasty 4 foot downhiller. Eton made a bogey five, allowing Howard to roll in the putt for a brilliant win to take us through to the semi final on day two. In the other match, Graham Dunbar partnered with Peter Langrish-Smith. We started poorly and some good putting by Eton allowed them to take a four hole advantage as we left the 8th green. The back 9 saw a transformation and some strong driving by Graham and great irons by Peter led to birdies on the 13th and 14th holes pulling the game back to 1 down. We lost the 15th but won the 16th. We played the 17th well winning that with a par to draw level, before a sporting half was agreed on the 18th as the overall contest was decided. 

Having never reached day two previously, that is now two years in a row where the Senior Darwin team has reached Day 2 and the semi finals. 

 Semi-Final v Uppingham 

Senior Darwin Team

Again we led with Howard and Mark. We felt fairly comfortable after going one up after four holes, but the game then turned as Uppingham’s form improved, in the end we lost 3 & 2. In second spot was Graham and Peter who played in a high level game with multiple birdies for both teams. In the end they had more than us and fewer mistakes. Uppingham won it 2 & 1 and their pair finished at one over par gross for 17 holes which is outstanding. Last out was Ian and Gerald starting poorly allowing the opposition to go 2 up after 8. We then won two in a row on the 9th and 10th to level the match. We were still all square after 16th holes and since Uppingham had won overall a half was agreed. 

Special mentioned to Howard Olivere and Mark Walton who are becoming a very gritty and competitive partnership, in winning the last three holes to turn 2 down with 3 to play into a 1 up win against Eton. 

 Very Senior Darwin – Wednesday 11th June 2025 at Woking Golf Club 

Veterans Darwin Players

For the first time in a few years Highgate fielded two pairs in this competition played as a Stableford over one round. Richard Hayward (SH 1959) and Robin Goodfellow (TL 1960) were the first Highgate pair to tee off. Highgate’s 2nd pair found the greens and in particular the pin placings to be difficult which restricted their chances of picking up points, they did not contend scoring 14 points. 

Andrew Gibson (GH 1961) and Robert Phillips (SH 1961), our main pair, teed off directly behind. We started well and dropped only one point to par (2 points) on the first six holes. Andrew in particular putted very well. We then had a poor patch failing to score points on three of the next six holes. The last six holes were very good producing 11 points. A game of three thirds… A final total of 28 points was achieved by Andrew and Robert. The winners were Harrow with a great score of 34 points, well ahead of Malvern’s second pair in second place on 29 points. Our top pair were only one behind at 28 points, in tied 3rd place with two other teams.