Once again, we are indebted to Worksop Golf Club for hosting the 2024 Inter Regional Championship. The weather across the UK this summer had been rather mixed, with frequent rain and intermittent sunshine. Consequently, the course was in excellent condition, with lush green fairways and firm, fastrunning greens a pleasant surprise giventherainfallinrecentweeks.
This year, we began once again with a field of nine teams and no ‘B’ teams (Cyprus were unable to travel). A total of 54 players travelled to Worksop to represent their teams: South East (the reigning champions), South West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, West Midlands, Eastern, North East, and North West.
The competition format remained the same in time-honoured tradition, with Greensome Pairs Stableford in the morning and Singles Stableford in the afternoon, all with the relevant handicap allowances. Given that the fairways were playing longer, the decision was made to play all matches off the yellow tees for both competition formats. This also considered the potential for fading light forthoseteeingofflaterintheafternoon.
Day one began well, with clear, warm conditionscreatingthesensethatplayers could really take advantage of the course and score well. As the greenkeeping staff busied themselves moving hole positions and cutting the greens, the competition got underway. Everything was set for a good day’s play; it was now up to the teamsandplayerstoproducethescores.
It was evident that those with the ability to hit consistently straight shots would perform well, and this was the case in the morning Greensomes, where some outstanding scores were posted. Familiar names began to emerge at the top ofthe leaderboard. As the morning progressed, it became clear that scores were likely to surpass last year’s, with eight pairs
scoring over 40pts. Notably, Maj Om Pun and Maj Chin Thapa from the South West posted 44pts. Close behind were Capt Rob Barr and Mr J Smith from the North West, with 43pts. Five pairs followed on 42pts,withonepairjustbehindon41pts.
After the Greensomes, the team standings began to take shape. The reigning champions from the South East were struggling at the foot of the leaderboard with a meagre 71pts due to thedisqualificationofoneoftheirplayers, some 20pts lower than the last-placed team at this stage in 2023. They had a tough task ahead if they were to retain the trophy. At the top of the leaderboard, everything was still to play for in the afternoon Singles. North West led with 122pts, closely followed by Northern Ireland on 117pts, and three teams South West, Scotland, and Eastern on 116ptseach.
With temperatures remaining high throughout the afternoon, the Singles competition began. As in the morning, scoring was consistent, and the leaderboard changed with each new scorecard. Since only five scores counted (with the lowest score dropped), consistency within each team was crucial to success. Although no player managed to score in the 40s, as had happened in previous years, four players finished with 38pts, all of which had to be decided by countback. As the scores came in, it was Scotland who emerged as clubhouse leaders with 178pts, two of their players posting top-four scores on the leaderboard. In second place were West Midlands with 174pts, followed by North Westinthirdwith166pts.
Atthecloseofplay,withthemorningand afternoon scores combined, there was a clear winner by 6pts, with overall scores some 20pts higher than last year. As the day drew to a close, Scotland were the worthy winners with 294pts. North West finished as runners-up for the second year in a row with 288pts. In third place
were West Midlands with 278pts, and Eastern region claimed fourth place with 274pts.
Our thanks, once again, go to the Worksop committee and its members for allowing us to use their course for this year’s event and for their generous hospitality and support. A special mention must go to the Club Captain, Mr Neil Dawson, who went out of his way to make us feel welcome and stayed late into the evening to assist with the prizegiving. Thanks also to the catering staff in the hospitality space and the greenkeeping team for preparing the course so well. Finally, a special thanks to the General Manager, Mr Simon Booth, for agreeing to host the Championship for the next five years. We are already lookingforwardto2025!
In addition, our gratitude goes to Thales, the AGA headline sponsor, for their support of the AGA, to Heckler & Koch, who supply the officials' clothing, and to Army Sport. Last, but by no means least, we extend our thanks to Keith Seddon, the Tournament Director in his final competition, to Chris Bartley, Tournament Official, and to Vice Chair Bob Gamble, for ensuring the event ran smoothly.
With the Championship secured at Worksop for the next five years, we look forward to returning on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd September 2025, with the usual practice round and committee match taking place on Monday 1st September 2025. After this year’s 4½–½ defeat, the AGA will focus on better team selectionnextyear.
RESULTS
Greensome Pairs (AM)
1st Maj Om Pun and Maj Chin Thapa (South West) 44pts
2nd CaptRobBarrandMrJSmith(NorthWest) 43pts
Singles Nett (PM)
1st CaptKennyWatson(Scotland) 38ptsOCB
2nd MrChrisPaterson(Scotland) 38ptsOCB
3rd SSgtRameshPun(WestMidlands) 38ptsOCB
4th WO2PaulSimpson(SouthEast) 38ptsOCB
Regional Team Scores Champions Scotland 294pts
Runners-Up NorthWest 288pts
3rd WestMidlands 278pts
4th Eastern 274pts
5th SouthWest 272pts
6th NorthernIreland 269pts
7th NorthEast 257pts
8th Wales 248pts
9th SouthEast 236pts