Richmond Park entered 2 teams in this year’s Surrey Golf better ball pairs knockout competition. The RP1 team (Brendan O’Sullivan and Russell Stewart) beat Surrey National in Round 1 and London Scottish in Round 2; their Round 3 opponents are Dulwich & Sydenham.

The RP2 team (Adrian Wells and Julian James) beat Lingfield Park (away) in Round 1 and Coulsdon Court in Round 2. Their 3rd round match was a 5&4 win against Banstead Downs, played on May 3rd on the Prince’s course. Heavy overnight rain resulted in Glendale closing both the Prince’s and Duke’s courses, but as the match had already started it was allowed to continue to a conclusion. Adrian reports that the Banstead players just couldn’t come to grips with the soggy conditions and long grass off the ‘fairways’ and weren’t as prepared as Julian, who came with 5 pairs of dry gloves. RP2’s next opponents will be either Malden or Wimbledon Common.

Richmond Park lost to Reigate Heath on The Duke’s course.

The home team of Uli Katte and Richard Owen couldn’t match the high scoring pair of Paul Canary and David Ling, to whom they were giving shots. Reigate Heath went on to lose the East Final to Richmond Golf Club (Sudbury).

Richmond Park beat Thames Ditton GC in their quarter final match on the Duke’s course, progressing to the Semi Final.

In blistering hot conditions, the Richmond pair of Uli Katte and Richard Owen ‘saw off’ the challenge of Thames Ditton with a 5 & 3 win.. Although we were giving them 5 and 7 shots, Richard’s birdie on the 1st, followed by Uli’s birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes, settled the nerves and gave us a cushion lead, which was maintained throughout the round with some sparkling play, particularly by Uli (who was individually level par gross on the front 9).

Results at Kelso Hamilton East Knockout (surreygolf.org)

Richmond Park won their away match against Woodcote Park golf club in the 3rd round of the Surrey Golf Kelso Hamilton 4BBB knockout competition.

The Woodcote Park golf course, near Coulsdon, was in wonderful condition with many trees and bunkers and large, fast, undulating greens. The match started in glorious warm sunshine, rapidly deteriorated to 3 hours of persistent rain, with the sun re-appearing for the final 2 holes. It was an extremely close match, never more than 2 holes in it, and the Richmond Park team of Richard Owen and Uli Katte never in-front until the 19th hole had been played.