Matchplay Championship 26

ARMY GOLF ASSOCIATION

WWW.ARMYGOLF.CO.UK

MATCHPLAY CHAMPIOSHIP 5 - 8 JUL 26‌ SAUNTON GC

The Championship attracted unprecedented

Notable results from the Sunday Qualifier

interest and was heavily oversubscribed,

included Sgt Sanman Thapa Magar RE’s

resulting

entrants

impressive 8&7 victory over Sgt Lucky Gurung

in

the

R Sigs and LCpl Ben Foster RE's commanding

ballot. Every effort was made to retain as

7&5 victory over CSjt Yam Gurung RCAM. At

many travelling reserves as possible, allowing

the other end of the spectrum, two closely

us to maximise participation should places

contested matches required extra holes to

become available. Despite this, a significant

produce a winner, with WO1 James Butler RE

number

overcoming‌

in

more

than

unfortunately

being

unsuccessful

of

members

25

were

inevitably

‌Cpl Narayan Thapa AGC on

disappointed, as the course's capacity for the

the 19th, while‌

‌Sgt Robert Heath AGC

week limited the number of competitors that

also prevailed on the 19th against WO2

we could accommodate. Despite this, the

Stephen Carson Inf.

Championship once again featured a full field, with 93 players competing in the main

With the qualif‌ier complete, 29 players

Matchplay competition and a further 10

progressed

travelling reserves, who would either step up

competition, which got underway on Monday

to the main event or compete in a daily

morning. Those who did not advance were

Stableford competition.

far from finished, competing instead in the

into

the

main

Matchplay

Scratch Monday Stableford on the West The

35

lowest-handicap

players

gained

course; a fiercely contested event in its own

automatic entry into the Championship,

right, with the top 16 players securing a place

while the remaining 58 had to qualify on

in the Reserve Matchplay for the Keith

Sunday. Under overcast skies, the qualifier

Seddon Trophy, which got underway on

got underway, with the standard of the field

Tuesday morning.

once again highlighting the strength of the competition. The automatic qualification cut-

Those vying for a place in the Keith Seddon

off fell to an exceptionally low handicap index

Trophy were greeted by dense mist that

of 2.7 this year, while the highest handicap in

blanketed the entire course on Monday

the field was just 7.6. The standard continues

morning. For a time, it appeared the opening

to rise year on year, making qualification

tee‌ time might have to be delayed, but as is

increasingly competitive.

often the case at Saunton, the visibility improved just enough to allow play to commence

as

scheduled

at

0730hrs.‌

Given the challenging conditions and the scratch

Stableford

format,

scoring

was

understandably modest across the field. The standout performance came from Sgt James Watson AGC, whose determined round of 29pts secured top spot on the leaderboard.

Sharing Course marshals hard at work

second

place

on

28pts

were‌

Sgt Tolok Gurung R Sigs and Capt Imbahadur Ghale RA.

The main Championship also got underway

impressive

on Monday morning on the East course. Like

Gurung RE, while Greenwood recorded a

those competing in the Stableford, the

convincing 6&4 win against WO2 Clinton

players were greeted by dense mist that

Hamblett RE. The closest contest of the

shrouded the course at first light. Fortunately,

afternoon saw Sgt Prem Gurung R Sigs

the conditions improved sufficiently for play

eventually overcome WO2 Kerry Roberts RA

to begin on schedule, setting the stage for

on

another

encounter.

day

of

high-quality

Matchplay

the

6&5

20th

victory

hole

over

after

a

Sgt

Bikash

hard-fought

between the Army's finest golfers.

The

Denton

Salver,

contested

by

those

Among the standout performances, Sgt

defeated in the opening round of the

Bikash Gurung RE recorded the largest

Championship, once again featured a field of

winning margin of the day with an emphatic

exceptionally talented golfers, making every

7&6 victory over SSgt Ben Ware‌ ‌Int Corps.

match highly competitive. Notable results

There were also four convincing 6&5 wins,

included Gdsm Morgan Young Inf's 6&4

with Maj Jack Musgrove RA defeating CSgt

victory over LCpl Carl Gelder AGC and WO2

Tom Purce Inf, Cpl Ross Greenwood RE

Bruce McAulay RA's commanding 6&5 win

beginning the defence of his title with a

against Sgt Robert Heath AGC. The closest

comfortable win over Sgt Benoy Gurung R

encounter saw Lt Max Hunt RLC edge past

Sigs,

Cpl Peter Forsyth R Sigs on the 20th hole to

SSgt

Matthew

Bruce-Smith

AGC

overcoming SSgt Nil Thapa RLC, and SSgt Jit

book his place in the next round.

Thapa RE seeing off Sgt Daniel Birks RE. At the opposite end of the scale, two matches

Monday

also

produced

a

memorable

produced gripping finishes. Maj Jonathan

individual achievement, with WO2 Ryan

Howse RLC eventually prevailed over WO2

Davies RAPTC recording a superb hole-in-one

David Hughes REME on the 20th hole after a

on the 5th hole of the East course. An

fiercely contested encounter, while LCpl Ben

outstanding feat at any level of golf, his ace

Foster RE required 21 holes to overcome Pte

was recognised with the presentation of a

Alastair McNeill RAMS in the longest match

commemorative certificate from the club.

of the opening round.

The

afternoon

Championship

round was

of

played

in

the

main

far

more

favourable conditions. The morning mist had completely

disappeared,

leaving

partly

cloudy skies and a light breeze. As the afternoon progressed, the cloud gradually gave

way

to

sunshine,

providing

ideal

conditions for another excellent round of Matchplay golf. Among the standout results, defending champion LCpl Graeme Torrie RE continued‌

‌his‌

‌title‌

defence‌

‌with‌

‌an

Lt Col (Retd) Bob Gamble OBE and WO2 Ryan Davies RAPTC

Tuesday also brought the first handicap

In the Denton Salver, the players progressing

Stableford (Micky Bryant Memorial Trophy)

to the afternoon quarter-finals were Young,

for

main

McNeill, Fus Harrison Benn Inf, Pte Bhupal

Championship and the Denton Salver, those

Gurung AGC, WO1 David Grant AGC, WO1 Jay

who had not qualified for the Keith Seddon

Pearson RE, Davies and Maj Gary Greaves R

Trophy, and the travelling reserves. Warm,

Sigs.

those

knocked

out

of

the

mainly sunny conditions provided a welcome contrast to Monday's morning mist, although

The third round of the main Championship

the course continued to present a stern test.

featured some of the Army's finest golfers,

Once again, scoring reflected the challenge,

with the quality of the field becoming ever

with only 12 players returning 33pts or better.

stronger as the competition progressed.

The leading score of the day was an excellent

Played in warm sunshine with only a light

36pts from Pte Buluhang Rai AGC, who

breeze, the conditions allowed for some

claimed victory on countback from Capt

outstanding

Dipendra Rai RLC. A further four players

results, Musgrove produced an impressive

finished on 34pts: Cpl Cameron Weir RLC,

5&4 victory over SSgt Chris Rosie RE, while

LBdr Craig Cowie RA, SSgt Samuel Shrubsole

Spr Adam Sutton RE emerged victorious after

REME and SSgt Bikash Gurung R Sigs. ‌Pte

20 holes in a hard-fought contest against

Buluhang Rai AGC is the 2026 Micky Bryant

Thapa Magar Sanman. By the conclusion of

Memorial Trophy winner‌.

the morning's play, the remaining field was

golf.

Among

the

standout

made up almost exclusively of the Army's leading players.

As the afternoon drew to a close on a sunsoaked East course, the main Championship quarter-finals

produced

a

compelling

encounters

in

conditions.

The

standout

series

of

near-perfect match

saw

newcomer Sutton continue his impressive run through the competition, overcoming Musgrove in a closely fought contest that required an extra hole to decide the outcome.

In an all-Sapper battle, Greenwood defeated defending champion Torrie on the 19th hole, ending Torrie's title defence in dramatic fashion. Bruce-Smith secured a convincing 4&3 victory over Maj Peter Brown REME, while Thapa J overcame Howse 2&1 to complete the semi-final line-up. With the last four

now

confirmed,

the

competition

remained wide open as the race for the title Pte Buluhang Rai AGC

intensified.

The afternoon round of the Denton Salver

in the Keith Seddon Trophy, with Bennett

also delivered plenty of excitement, with all

taking on Johnson, while Thapa Magar

four quarter-finals producing competitive

Laxmiraj faced Ghale.

Matchplay. Young edged past McNeill 1Up, while Benn recorded a strong 4&3 victory

In the Denton Salver, Young continued his

over Gurung Bhupal. Pearson defeated Grant

pursuit of the title against Benn, while

3&2, and Davies overcame Greaves by the

Pearson went head-to-head with Davies for a

same margin to secure their places in the

place in the final.

semi-finals.

The main Championship semi-finals followed, The

Keith

proved

Seddon

equally

Trophy

quarter-finals

with

Sgt

Greenwood,

competitive.

Adrian

Sutton

facing

while

2024

champion

Bruce-Smith

took

on

Bennett R Sigs edged past Cpl Aiden Dewar

Thapa Jit in a battle for a place in the

REME 2Up, while Maj Steve Johnson RAMS

prestigious final.

overcame Sgt James Watson AGC 1Up. Cpl Laxmiraj Thapa Magar RLC defeated Cpl Alfie

Following a morning of outstanding ball-

Haines RAMS 1Up, and Ghale secured a 2Up

striking, impressive course management and

victory

narrow

composed Matchplay golf from all semi-

matches

finalists, the stage was set for three exciting

demonstrated the competitiveness of the

finals in the concluding session of the

field, with every player pushing hard for a

Championship. The final pairings were:‌

over

margins

Gurung

across

Lucky.

all

The

four

place in the semi-finals.

Main Championship: Greenwood vs With

semi-final

line-ups

now

complete

Bruce-Smith‌

across all competitions, attention turned to

Denton Salver: Benn vs Pearson‌

who could handle the pressure as the

Keith Seddon Trophy: Bennett vs Thapa

tournament entered its closing stages. The

Magar Laxmiraj

forecast

promised

a

hot

and

sunny

Wednesday, setting the scene for another

In the Stableford competition (Bartley/Taylor

exciting day of high-quality Matchplay golf.

Trophy), 97 players took to the West course, an

equally

demanding

layout,

requiring

Wednesday began with an early start under a

careful course management, with significant

brightening sky, as the morning sun quickly

rewards available for those able to take

broke through, and the breeze remained

advantage of the opportunities presented. By

almost

players

this stage of the week, many competitors

having already completed up to 90 holes by

were also using the round as valuable

this stage of the week, the final day promised

preparation for the forthcoming Inter Corps

to be a demanding test of both skill and

Championship, which would be played over

endurance. Everything was set for an exciting

the same course during the following two

conclusion to the Matchplay Championships.

days. The hot conditions appeared to lend

non-existent.

With

many

themselves to stronger scoring, with 42 First‌ ‌onto‌ ‌the‌ ‌course were the semi-finalists

players‌ ‌returning‌ ‌scores‌ ‌of‌ ‌30pts or‌ ‌better.

The leading performance of the day came

The Denton Salver final proved a closely

from Carson, who posted an excellent 38pts

contested affair, with both players battling

to claim victory. Maj Charles O’Shea RA and

hard throughout. The match remained finely

Hughes were also worthy of mention, both

balanced, with neither player able to gain a

finishing with impressive scores of 37pts.

decisive advantage until the closing stages.

WO2 Stephen Paul Carson Inf is the 2026

Benn ‌held his ‌nerve when it ma‌ttered most,

Bartley/Taylor Trophy winner‌.

eventually

securing

a

2Up

victory

over

Pearson to claim the title. ‌Fus Harrison Benn Inf is the 2026 Denton Salver winner‌.

WO2 Stephen Paul Carson Inf

First of the finals to tee off was the Keith Seddon Trophy, where Bennett produced a composed and impressive display to secure a convincing 5&3 victory over Thapa Magar Laxmiraj.

Bennett

throughout

the

maintained match,

control

combining

consistency and strong course management to close out the final and claim the trophy in style. ‌Sgt Adrian Bennett R Sigs is the 2026

Fus Harrison Benn Inf

Keith Seddon Trophy winner‌.

The main Championship final brought four days of excellent golf to a fitting conclusion.

In

a

high-quality

contest

between

two

experienced competitors, Bruce-Smith faced Greenwood, the 2024 Matchplay Champion.

Having reached the semi-finals in 2022 and finished Runner-Up in 2023 to LCpl Tom Sanghera

REME,

Bruce-Smith’s

previous

performances demonstrated his consistent ability to compete at the highest level and he was determined to go one step further this year.

The

early

exchanges

were

closely

fought, with both players showing the quality Sgt Adrian Bennett R Sigs

that‌ ‌had‌ ‌carried‌ ‌them‌ ‌through‌ ‌to the final.

However, Bruce-Smith began to gain control

The

as

competition

the

match

progressed,

producing

standard

of was

play

throughout

outstanding,

the and

consistent golf and taking advantage of key

sportsmanship remained exemplary, with

opportunities to build his lead. He eventually

many fine individual performances across the

closed out the match with a deserved 4&3

week. Congratulations go not only to the

victory to claim the Championship title. ‌SSgt

winners, but to all who took part. The

Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS) is the 2026

Matchplay Championship 2027 will take place

Paget Trophy winner‌.

at Saunton GC from Sun 4 to Wed 7 Jul 27.

Army Champion SSgt Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS)

RESULTS Army Champion

SSgt Matthew Bruce-Smith AGC(SPS)

Runners-Up

Cpl Ross Greenwood RE

Plate Winner

Fus Harrison Benn Inf

Reserve Winner

Sgt Adrian Bennett R Sigs

Mon Stableford Winner (Handicap)

WO2 Brian Campbell RAC

Mon Stableford Winner (Scratch)

Sgt James Watson AGC

Tue Stableford Winner

Pte Buluhang Rai AGC

Wed Stableford Winner

WO2 Stephen Paul Carson Inf

Most Improved Player

SSgt Jit Thapa RE