For the last fixture of the year, LUGS headed to Huntercombe to play the current London University side in what is, in many ways, our most important match of the calendar. The future of the LUGS depends, in large part, on the introduction of new blood from the university ranks; and so forging closer links through 36 holes of foursomes on a fine golf course is as important as it is fun.
And what fine new blood it would be! Anastazja, captain for a second year, has done an excellent job in rebuilding the University fixture list from a very low base and enlisting some first rate new golfers. We had seen evidence of the new found enthusiasm for London University golf on their Instagram feed – now we saw it in person.
Anastazja had in mind too LUGS’ fine victory of 2023 and arrived determined to avenge. The match last year was played in December when a mist hung over the fine Willie Park Junior course for most of the day. This worked significantly to LUGS’ advantage; though their shoulder turns averaged 40 degrees more than ours, the University players were too often hindered by ‘knocking the ball out of sight’ (or, indeed, site!) leaving their wily opponents to trickle shots down the middle. No such problem this year, with the course visible in all its glory.
Daniel Grumberg, making his LUGS debut, carried the veteran ‘Porky’ Kershaw to a fine win in the first match out. But a strong middle order brought the University right back into the match and the teams went to lunch with everything to play for at 2 all.
Huntercombe is a golf club very comfortable in its own skin. Committed to two ball golf, it boasts some of the finest inland greens in England. The clubhouse, too, has changed very little in living memory and a jolly lunched followed the morning’s skirmishes.
The afternoon fixtures combined excellent golf, a race to beat the light and much good humour. Playing with Leo Faganelli, the ‘putting maestro’, Albert had been christened ‘Alberto’ for the day and carried off his new found Mediterranean persona with ‘Seve like’ aplomb.
With two matches left on the course, LUGS needed only a half point to avoid defeat. But the University demonstrated great strength in its tail and pressed forward to a fine victory.
All in all, a fine day. Congratulations to the University on the win and, especially, to Callum for not missing the middle of a fairway all day! Let us hope that we see many of these University golfers in LUGS shirts in the not too distant future.
Morning Matches
| LUGS | London University | ||
| Mike Kershaw/Daniel Grumberg | 1 | Anastazja Piechula/Antonina Lecka | 0 |
| Joe Park/Andrew Berryman | 0 | George Barnes/Callum Hill | 1 |
| Andrew Westmore/Sean Dryden | 0 | Abhisaran Sohal/Nav Dhar | 1 |
| Leo Faganelli/Jonathon Lavelle | 1 | Albert Howard/Anhad Singh | 0 |
| 2 | 2 |
Afternoon Matches
| LUGS | London University | ||
| Daniel Grumberg/Joe Park | ½ | George Barnes/Callum Hill | ½ |
| Mike Kershaw/Leo Faganelli | 1 | Albert Howard/Anastazja Piechula | 0 |
| Andrew Berryman/Andrew Westmore | 0 | Anhad Singh/Antonina Lecka | 1 |
| Jonathon Lavelle/Sean Dryden | 0 | Abhisaran Sohal/Nav Dhar | 1 |
| 1 ½ | 2 ½ |
London University wins by 4 ½ to 3 ½
London University Golfing Society 