championship INTER UNIT
This year saw the Inter Unit move back to Catterick Golf Club after a break of four years (2 years not played due to COVID) and there was a reasonable turn teams. Each team comprised 3 players (with one reserve if nominated) with the format of a 36-hole team Stableford qualifying competition on the first day. On day two, the top four teams progressed into the Matchplay Championship, the next four into the Plate and the remainder played a 27 team Stableford event.
The course was presented beautifully on day one with the greens staff giving the greens a double cut just to make things interesting.
Usually, it would be fair to say that the weather in Catterick is a overcoats colder” than our office location in the South of England but not this year. Day one opened with clear blue skies and temperatures well into the twenties before anyone had even teed off. Umbrellas were up all over the course by mid-morning but this year this was to prevent sun stroke rather than a good drenching!
With handicaps from 4 to 25 throughout the field, and the golf course providing a stern test for any player, scoring well was always going to be a challenge. That said there were some credible scores submitted and leading the way at lunchtime with 38pts was WO2 Bhim Kumar Garbuja 3 PWRR (A), followed by Sgt Nabin Limbu 1 RGR and Cpl Raju Tamang 3 PWRR (A) on 37pts. As most cards laid testament to, the front 9 was definitely a tougher test thanthe back.
After a great lunch it was back out and now the phrase “only mad dogs and Englishmen…..” was at the forefront of most players’ minds. Despite the increasing temperatures and everpresent stiff breeze, four players still managed to break par; Capt Prem Gurung 1 RGR achieving a very impressive
RLC
37pts
36pts. Another 11 players managed 30pts or better despite the course doing its best to derail them. This was all the more impressive by virtue of the fact that only 11 in total had managed the same in the morning.
The “undulating fairways, changes in elevation and sloping greens” certainly make for a stern test of golf but if nothing else, from certain parts of the course, the views are indeed “beautiful”.
The best of the overall individual standings from day one were:
Capt P Gurung (9)– 1 RGR – 74pts
Sgt N Limbu (10)– 1 RGR – 73pts
WO2 B Garbuja (15)– 3 PWRR (A) – 69pts
Cpl R Tamang (7)– 3 PWRR (A) – 68pts
Sgt P Tamang (4)– 39 Engr Regt – 66pts
and Cpl Surya Gurung 3 PWRR (B) on and Sgt Nabin Limbu 1 RGR on CSgt Bikash GurungTeam scores from the qualifying competition:
The draw for day two semi two Matchplay competitions saw:
ensure everyone could get away at a reasonable time, an early start beckoned on day two. The course was a hive of activity as we arrived at the start of the day with the greenkeepers preparing the course, but the conditions were a bit different to day one, not yet up was the sun and the morning dew was certainly going to test the waterproofing on some of the players’ shoes.
As planned, all the matches were to be played from the 1st and the Stableford from the 10th. Those playing in the Stableford were certainly warmed up by the time they got up to the 10th after their sojourn up “Heartbreak Hill” with a play better next year” and get into the Matchplay to avoid the climb. The 10th is a tough opening hole and even the best-looking tee shots from the tee can take a massive kick into the unknown where, lions, tigers and bears feared to tread. All this aside, all six teams in the Stableford teed off in buoyant
By the time everyone teed off, the sun was back in earnest, and it looked set to beanothergloriousday.
Out in the Plate semi-finals were 3 PWRR (B) vs 156 Regt RLC and 9 Regt RLC vs 39 Engr Regt. After what seemed like no time a smiling Sgt Prem Tamang of 39 Engr Regt came in to report a 7&6 win in his match against SSgt Bipendra Rai Lingkha. Fairly shortly afterward he was followed in by Cpl Surya Gurung of 3 PWRR (B) who won his match against WO2 Rob Delamar MBE, 6&5. We had to wait quite a while though for the remaining results which saw 3 PWRR (B) win their remaining two matches in very close fought battles: 1Up and 2Up.
Despite the easy win of Sgt Prem Tamang, 39 Engr Regt couldn’t find the other point they needed, and 9 Regt RLC claimed their place in the final alongside
Pirbright shot a superb 40 points leaving the rest of the field scrambling with only 5 players being able to card 30pts or better. It was heating up weatherwise though so perhaps better scores were coming our way in the final 9 holes.
The first of the main semi-finals saw 6 Regt RLC take on the might of 1 RGR, the latter having looked very impressive in the qualifying rounds. The “men in green” as 6 Regt RLC have become affectionately known certainly looked like the underdogs on paper.
The second of the main semi-finals was an all Gurkha affair with 3 PWRR (A) taking on the reigning Champions, Gurkha ARRC Sp Bn. This looked to be a very closely matched battle and so it proved when Gurkha ARRC Sp Bn just managed a 2-1 win with individual match wins of 3&2 and 1Up. Only WO2 Netra Rai managed to get a win for his team, beating CSgt Bikash Gurung, 3&2.
After 27 holes of Stableford, we had our Reserve Champions but before we get to that there are a couple of people worthy of note; Capt Andy Corke of 29 Regt RLC (A) who scored an impressive 18 points in his final nine holes, WO2 Dave Smith of 29 Regt RLC (B) who by the time he had climbed the hill to the 10th for the 2nd time was well and truly questioning why he had agreed to play and finally, LSgt Stephen Wilson of 1IG who didn’t really perform to his potential in the opening rounds but smashed the last 9, coming in with 20 points (just 1 less than he scored over 18 holes in the morning). Special mention should also go to Mr Wilson (LSgt Wilson’s dad and caddy) who managed to keep some of his hair!
With the Stableford done and dusted, all attention now turned to the matches on the course and first the Plate; 3 PWRR (B) and 9 Regt RLC had scored the same points in the qualifying rounds so it was expected that their matches were going to be tight. So it proved with Cpl Surya
Cpl Liam WhitbreadGurung and WO2 Arjun Rai of 3 PWRR (B) winning their matches 2&1 over SSgt Bipendra Rai Lingkha and Sgt Dhanraj Limbu. LCpl Bishal Rai of 9 Regt RLC though was determined not to lose all three points and ground out a 3&2 victory over Sgt Aash Bahadur Gurung.
To the main final then and the very much favoured Gurkha ARRC Sp Bn went out hard with Sgt Suresh Ale Magar sealing an easy win over SSgt David Whitwham 6&5 who surely had given his all in the morning round. It is worth noting here that two of the 6 Regt RLC team were playing in the High Handicap Championship just a few weeks ago and that last year they were runners up in the Reserve Championship. For them then to be battling it out for the Inter Unit Championship is testament to hard work and determination they have put in over the last 12 months.
The 3rd match out was LCpl Liam Whitbread of 6 Regt RLC vs Cpl Rishikesh Sen. Whitbread would be the first to admit that he had not had the best of starts in the Championship, but he took an early lead in his match and despite Sen pulling back a couple of holes, Whitbread held on to win 2Up.
Now the focus moved to Cpl Sean Byrne (6 Regt RLC) and CSgt Bikash Gurung who hitherto had been going about their business just under the radar with only ever one or two holes between them. Gurung sunk a great putt on 16 to halve the hole which meant Byrne teed off 17 1Up. Unfortunately for Byrne, he pushed his approach and he had a devilish chip back which he made, but he had left himself a tough putt. Gurung once again showed his putting prowess and took the hole before Byrne had a chance to sink his. After 2 days it came down to one hole, a half would force a playout, a win for either would take secure the Inter Unit Championship and probably one of the most impressive trophies in Army sport. Despite his best efforts, Byrne
Gurung’s putting didn’t let him down when it mattered, and he won the match 1Up.
Huge congratulations go to all the players who fought hard over the two days for their units. The AGA continues to make it a priority to grow this event and welcomes entries from all units able to field a team of 3; male, female, or mixed.
As always, we convey our most sincere thanks to our sponsors, without whom we would be unable to run these events so to Thales, our headline sponsor, Comms Spec (comms supplier) and Army Sport (grant support), thank you!
And, finally our most sincere thanks to Catterick Golf Club and its members and Committee for allowing us to take great chunks of their tee times over the two days. The course was presented in great condition, and we were looked after superbly by the Club Secretary Shireen Rudge, James Wallace, and his staff in the pro shop and last but by no means least by Penny Bernhardt and her staff in the bar, special mention to Thierry who provided the catering and probably some of the best chips ever!
Capt Andy CorkeCHAMPIONS
Gurkha ARRC Sp Bn
CSgt Bikash Gurung
Sgt Suresh Ale Magar
Cpl Rishikesh Sen
RESERVE WINNERS
ATC Pirbright
CSgt Sarbajit Jugjali
Cpl Hari Rai
Cpl Benoy Gurung
PLATE WINNERS
3 PWRR (B)
WO2 Arjun Rai
Sgt Aash Bahadur Gurung
Cpl Surya Gurung
RESULTS
Winners Gurkha ARRC Sp Bn
CSgt Bikash Gurung
Sgt Suresh Ale Magar
Cpl Rishikesh Sen
Runners-Up 6 Regt RLC
SSgt David Whitwham
Cpl Sean Byrne
LCpl Liam Whitbread
Plate Winners 3 PWRR (B)
WO2 Arjun Rai
Sgt Aash Bahadur Gurung
Cpl Surya Gurung
Plate Runners-Up 9 Regt RLC
SSgt Bipendra Rai Lingkha
Sgt Dhanraj Limbu
LCpl Bishal Rai
Reserve Winners ATC Pirbright
CSgt Sarbajit Jugjali
Cpl Hari Rai
Cpl Benoy Gurung
Reserve Runners-Up 29 Regt RLC (A)
Capt Andy Corke
Capt Steve Francis
WO1 Shaun Goldsborough