Inter Corps Championship 2024

INTER CORPS

championship

16 - 17 May 2024 Saunton Golf Club

The draw for the 50th Inter Corps Championship, generously sponsored by Army Sport, was conducted by the Tournament Director, Lt Col (Retd) Keith Seddon, on Wed 15 May, after the Matchplay finals, Prize Giving, and AGM had concluded.

17 teams entered: the field comprised 12 ‘A’ teams (RCAM did not enter a team) and 5 ‘B’ teams. The R SIGS (A) and AGC teams were seeded 1 and 2 respectively, as winners and runners-up from the 2023 Championship, with the remainder being drawn out of the hat. Prior to the main draw, there was a draw to determine which of the 'B' teams would be balloted out, allowing the remainder to be added to the main draw. Unfortunately, the AGC (B) team was the unlucky one this year.

The main draw produced some interesting matches, with all the early favourites avoiding each other. In the top half of the draw, the matches were RE (A) vs AAC, RAC vs RLC (B), INF (A) vs RE (B), and RAPTC vs R SIGS (A). In the bottom half, the matches were AGC vs R SIGS (B), Int Corps vs AMS, INF (B) vs RLC (A), and RA vs REME. Those wishing to place a bet would likely have considered any one of the top four or five teams.

On day one of the Championship, played on the West Course, the early weather

conditions were the best of the week, with bright sunshine and hardly any wind, making it perfect for a good day of golf.

Consequently, the early matches followed their seedings: the RE (A) defeated the AAC with a 4-1 win, and the RAC dismantled the RLC (B) team with another 4-1 victory. In a potential upset, the INF (A) were taken to a playoff hole after a 2½-2½ draw but ultimately prevailed on the playoff hole.

The biggest shock of the day came when the RAPTC beat last year’s winners, the R SIGS (A), with a 3½-1½ win, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time in many years.

In the bottom half of the draw, the AGC beat the R SIGS (B) 4-1, and the Int Corps defeated the AMS 3½-1½, who played without Stu Campbell and Steve Johnson for the first time in years. The INF (B) lost to the RLC (A) 4-1, and finally, the RA beat the REME 4-1.

As the afternoon session and the second round began, the winds returned and the rain started to fall. Within minutes, the rain turned to torrential hailstones. The thunder and lightning that followed brought the matches to a halt, and the competition was on the verge of being called off. However, we pushed on, hoping the weather would improve—and it did.

STABLEFORD WINNERS INT CORPS L to R: Lewis, Ben, Jon, Scott

In the plate competition, the AAC managed a 3-2 win over the RLC (B). The RE (B) narrowly lost to the R SIGS (A) 3-2, while the R SIGS (B) beat the AMS 4½-½. In the final match, the INF (B) defeated the REME 3-2. The plate semi-finals were set for the AAC vs the R SIGS (A) and the R SIGS (B) vs the INF (B).

sunshine, promising a good day. In a change from recent years, the Stableford competition was held on the West Course, with the semi-finals and finals played on both the East Course (main) and West Course (plate). This change proved successful and will continue in the future.

In the main competition, the RE (A) beat the RAC 4-1. The RAC were to be congratulated, as this event marked their best Inter Corps performance in many years. The RAPTC, who recorded their best results in over 20 years to reach the semi-finals of the main competition, defeated the INF (A) 4-1 in their match. The future looks bright for both the RAC and the RAPTC if they can retain their players. The AGC beat the Int Corps, who were potential dark horses in the competition, 4½-½. Finally, as the sun set and the light faded into the late evening, the RA beat the RLC (A) 4-1. The main semi-finals were set for the RAPTC vs the RE (A) and the AGC vs the RA.

By the end of play, it was evident that the long week had taken its toll on most players, as there were few scores in the 30s. The AMS had a particularly tough day. However, the overall scores were better than last year, reflecting the improved weather conditions.

The final standings were as follows: 8th place – AMS with 95 pts, 7th place – RLC (B) with 107 pts, 6th place – REME with 113 pts, 5th place – RE (B) with 122 pts, 4th place – RAC with 124 pts, 3rd place – INF (A) with 128 pts, Runners-Up – RLC (A) with 132 pts, leaving the Int Corps with 136 pts as the 2024 REME Shield winners.

In the REME Shield for those knocked out from the afternoon main and plate rounds, each team is required to play 18 holes of scratch Stableford, with all five scores counting. Friday morning started well, with low wind for the first time all week and bright

In the plate semi-final (Singapore Trophy), the R SIGS (A) emerged as convincing winners with a 4½-½ victory against the AAC. The INF (B) team, advancing further in the competition than their A team, brushed aside the R SIGS (B) with a 4-1 win. The final started as a close match between R SIGS (A) and INF (B), but as the hours passed, the Army players

PLATE WINNERS R SIGS (A) Top L to R: Jim Reeves, Bisal Gurung, Sanjeev Rai, Aidi Bennett Bottom L to R: Ben Dawson, Prem Gurung

showed their strength, with the R SIGS (A) ultimately proving too strong, winning 3½-1½. The R SIGS (A) are the 2024 Singapore Trophy winners.

In the main semi-final, the RE (A) proved to be the stronger team, winning 3-2 over the RAPTC. The RA defeated the AGC convincingly with a 4-1 victory. With the sun still high in the sky, both finalists, the RE (A) and the RA, set off with high hopes of victory.

As the afternoon progressed, all matches were close at the turn. In match one, the new Matchplay Champion, Cpl Ross Greenwood, was taken to the wire but eventually prevailed on the 17th, winning 2&1 over Maj Charles O’Shea. Match two went the other way, with WO2 Kerry Roberts winning 4&2.

With match three halved, it came down to the last two matches to decide the outcome.

With SSgt Gaz Gurung winning 5&4, it seemed all was set for a draw as Sgt Rob Perrins was 2Up and cruising. However, SSgt Jit Thapa pulled back two holes to take the fourth match to all square going up the 18th, with a chance for an outright win for the RE. Unfortunately, with neither player hitting the fairway, the pressure was telling, but Perrins held his nerve to win the hole, taking the match to a playoff at 2½-2½.

The now tired-looking Roberts was selected to play the playoff hole for the RA, while the RE opted for their new Matchplay Champion, Greenwood. But they had not checked the form book, as he had not played the 1st hole well all week; unfortunately, the playoff was no different. Roberts maintained his focus and got the job done. The RA are the 2024 Royal Irish Rangers Bowl winners.

INTER CORPS CHAMPIONS RA L to R: Craig Cowie, Kerry Roberts, Kev Ramage, Rob Perrins, Charlie O’Shea

KEY RESULTS Inter Corps Champions

RA

Runners-Up

RE (A)

Plate Winners

R SIGS (A)

Runners-Up

INF (B)

Stableford Winners

Int Corps

Runners-Up

RLC (A)