REDEEM TEAM AT RSG
the 137th university golf mAtch
ROYAL ST GEORGE'S GOLF CLUB SANDWICH
26th-28th MARCH, 2026
It was a well drilled team that arrived at Royal St George’s Golf Club, eager to avenge the uncharacteristic defeat at Royal North Devon. On a sustainable diet of club breakfasts and Bordeaux for lunch and dinner, the result was never in doubt. Special thanks must go to Aidan Wong and Taanvir Sood for all their hard work in organising an unforgettable week. The match would not have been possible without the generosity of the OCGS or RSG, and to them we will remain forever grateful.
The week began with the Divots in action on Wednesday at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. Armed with a strong contingent of first years as well as Divots veterans, OUGC was confident in a positive outcome. Our faith was rewarded early on, with the team surging to an early lead in the foursomes with some commanding victories. It was however finely poised at lunch, with the dark Blue holding on to a 3-2 lead. It turned into a tense affair in the afternoon, not in the least because of the inclement weather we were treated to. At one stage, it seemed to be slipping from our grasp, with the Stymies up in the majority of the matches.
In the end, it took miraculous performances from Toby Gu and Jack Bristowe to get the Divots over the line. Bristowe was out early in the order, and faced some stiff opposition. He found himself 4 down with 6 to play, and decided to start playing golf. He clinched a crucial 1 up victory, masterfully conquering one of the toughest closing stretches on the circuit. It fell to Gu to drain the winning putt. He did it in style, holing out from the back of the 17th green to go dormie 1 up, guaranteeing the crucial half-point that saw the Divots reach the magic number of 8 points. Understandably elated, his concentration perhaps waned, as reflected in the final scoreline of 8-7. A remarkable comeback on the back nine, it was a win that I’m sure all involved will remember for years to come.
Our attention now turned to the Ladies’ Match at RSG, with the foursomes also being played on the Wednesday. They faced formidable opposition, with their opposition touting national players and scratch golfers alike. They remained undaunted, committed to putting their best foot forward. The strength and depth of CUGC proved to be too much in the foursomes, and they headed into the Thursday singles matches with a 3-0 lead.
The Light blue managed to produce a couple of points early on in the order, crossing the 5-point threshold with four games still on course. The final score ended at 7-2, and the entire Oxford team were there celebrating a fantastic victory by former (and next year's) captain, Matilda Lawson, testament to the fantastic spirit that Sophia Behroun and her team relied upon. They fought valiantly throughout the competition, and we are all confident they will return in a similar vein next year; don’t be surprised if that match report reads very differently.
Often referred to as the most important match of the week, especially by the treasurer, the Dinner Match featured Southern Hemisphere heroes, Angus Brayshaw and Michael Velloza, took to the course on Thursday to sing for our supper. In what both regarded as the biggest sporting moment of their lives, they rose to the occasion. Starting hot in the foursomes by going 3-3-3, each holing lovely birdie putts in the opening two. At times it seemed they might take the foot off the gas, but they ended up sealing a convincing 3&2 victory in the foursomes. Velloza managed to wrap things up, as far as the match was concerned, with par on 15 good enough for a win. All eyes turned to Brayshaw as he looked to close out the clean sweep. It took a remarkable up and down on 18 from James Thresher to put up Cambridge’s only point of the day. Brayshaw was clearly uncomfortable playing in front of such a large crowd.
With the preliminaries out of the way, all focus turned to the main event. The self-titled “Redeem Team” had their eye on the prize from the get-go.
One may have been forgiven for thinking that finalist and Varsity veteran Haochen Wang would have been weakened by illness that put him out of commission for most of the practice days, but he partnered fresher Richard Heath admirably in the foursomes. They put up our first point of the day up against one of Cambridge’s top pairs. Referring to Richard Heath as a fresher is potentially a misnomer, given that he is a multiple-time European Mid-Amateur champion. His quality was on full display throughout the week, and it left the rest of the team perfectly poised to compete with fervour.
Captain Aidan Wong did just that, partnering incoming captain Charlie Flaxbeard to our second point of the day, as they got over the line in the third match on course. Harry Thomas and Tom Thorpe completed the midfield sweep, and we entered the Friday evening cocktail party with a slender 3-2 lead.
Led by Roger Kelly, the captains were invited to read out their singles order for Saturday, much to the entertainment of everyone present. Reading like a tale of the tape, we were treated to some oohs and aahs as we learnt what matches we’d be enjoying the following day. There were a few storylines to monitor closely. Wong was eager to end the Captain’s Curse and put the first singles point by an Oxford captain on the board in some years. A few newer members were also desperately in search of their first point, Heechan Chae prevailing late on against fierce opposition. Special commiserations must go to incoming treasurer Barney Maisey for having this misfortunate of drawing Adam Charlton in the singles. One would hope he can follow in Freddie Ogilvie’s footsteps and return with two points in two years time. It was David Ng (former Divots' Captain) who fell victim to Ogilvie, who's wonderful approach on the 18th sealed a fine win with birdie.
Wong got off to a flying start, yet somehow managed to make a match of it by the back nine in the afternoon. He tiptoed across the line, setting the tone for his troops to follow. A couple of big wins by Heath, Thomas, and Flaxbeard, meant we were able to surge to 7 points relatively early on in proceedings. It now fell to the remaining four matches on course to secure the vital 8th point.
Our attention turned to the first of these games, with Wang taking on the big-hitting Max Krefting. Their match was a phenomenal spectacle, with both trading lovely shots, one after the other. Ultimately, a regulation two-putt par on the 17th wrapped up CUGC’s fate, and delivered the Redeem Team to destiny. The final result was 9.5 – 5.5 to Oxford, a welcome return to regular programming.
All eyes must now turn to Royal Lytham and St Annes, which will host us for the 138th iteration of this special fixture. We will be without some familiar faces, but on a more positive note, many of the OUGC stalwarts will be returning for their last dance in Dark Blue. There is no doubt they will bring the same intensity as they did this year, and with any luck, emerge victorious once again.
