Surrey First Team v Sunningdale

Sunday 8th February saw Surrey 1st team play Sunningdale Golf Club in their first preseason match of the 2026 season. This annual fixture is looked forward too and is one of our toughest matches. This year’s match was shortened to 18 holes of four 4ball better ball matches, instead of the normal foursomes, singles format due to the renovation works being carried out on the New Course. Despite the recent heavy rainfall, the Old Course was in as good as condition as possible and allowed for some excellent golf!

In match one, the two Harry’s, Butler and Crockett got off to a good start and after fine birdies at 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th & 10th were 4up, However, a fine fight back from the home team’s two captains, Richard Caldwell (Club Captain) and Will Shucksmith (Team Captain) with birdies at 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th meant the game went up the last hole with Surrey 1up. Two quality shots in the last green saw Harry Bulter hole from 8 feet for birdie and the win with his opponent only 5 feet away for birdie and a possibility of a terrific half!

Match two was a much tighter affair with never much in it the whole way round. Freddie Surgey hit a wonderful approach to 5feet at the 16th which looked like it might win the hole and give the Surrey pair a 1up lead with two to play. However, Jamie Gallacher for the home team, holed a fantastic long putt across the green for a birdie 3 and force Freddie to hole for the half instead. The game remained all square and that is how it finished.

Match three for Surrey was the Hindhead pair of stalwart David Corben and new to the squad Alex Macdonald. After some solid 4ball play with birdies at just the right times, including a wonderful chip from Alex, to within an inch of the hole for birdie at the long 14th. The Hindhead pair manage to ease out the very dangerous pair of Torrance & Rafferty on the 15th green.

The final match was also a tight affair with never more than one hole in it. All square through 15 holes, then Jon Poulten fired a quality approach at the long 16th to a couple of inches for a birdie and a one up lead. Despite a fine drive and approach to 8feet form Alistair Kinnaird at the 17th, the putt for the match just broke across the hole and slipped by. So, with a 1up lead the Surrey pair held the advantage at the 18th. Good drives and approaches meant all four players found the green and with the home team the closest they had a chance of squaring the match. However, after hitting his second 30feet Jon Poulton promptly rattled in his putt for birdie to take that chance away and ensure a point for Surrey.

After an excellent and very enjoyable match the final score was

Surrey 3.5 – 0.5 Sunningdale GC.

As always, a big thankyou to Sunningdale Golf Club for their excellent hospitality and their continued support of this fixture.

Back left to right

Simon Crockett, Dave Corben, Alex MacDonald, Harry Crockett, Alastair Kinnaird

Front left to right

Jon Poulton, Freddie Surgey, Harry Butler, Max O'Hagan (capt)

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