OKS v. The School Golf 2023

A youthful school team took on an OKS side that spanned the decades in the annual fixture, which took place under grey skies at Royal St George’s.

Following a wonderful lunch, Johnny Allen made his OKS debut and chose to take on his younger brother, Patch (6b). They were all square after 12, before Johnny hit his stride and pulled away to win 3&2. In the second match, OKS stalwart Ed Lines took on Nick Connor (6a). Ed’s experience ensured he kept control, helped by chipping in from 80 yards on the 12th. Nick had a brief rally, but Ed held on to win 2 up. Facing a whitewash, and not leading in any of the other three matches at the turn, the school needed to respond.

Archie Brown (Shell), making his debut, was playing against Charlie Rudguard, and responded to the rally cry, hitting his tee shot on 11 to 1 foot. A nip and tuck match was all square after 15, but Archie held his nerve and produced a par on the 18th to win the match 1 up.

Frazer Hughes was all square with Cameron Manney at the turn, and after 12, but Cameron forged ahead and won 2&1 with a birdie on the 17th. So the match between Max Wang (5th Form, and the International College’s first representative in this fixture) and Angus Hulme would decide the destiny of the Bragg Cup. Angus was 1 up at the turn, but Max was 1 up after 12. The toing and froing continued as the rain relented, with Max going up the 18th 1 up after a flurry of pars. The youngster was left with a 5 footer to win the cup, but just missed it, and the match finished all square, meaning that the Bragg Cup was retained by the OKS with the teams deadlocked at 2 ½ -2 ½. It was a fitting ending to a very convivial afternoon of golf.

It was a great experience for the school team and they are grateful to all of the OKS who turned out to play them.