Bonallack Trophy – Walker Cup

86. The 2018 Bonallack Trophy Match

13th March 2018

Asia-Pacific won the 2018 Bonallack Trophy match against Europe 16.5 – 15.5. This was just the third time in ten matches that Asia-Pacific had prevailed.

The match was played at Doha GC in Qatar between 8th-10th March.

Three Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) players were selected for the European team; Todd Clements (ENG), Robin Dawson (IRE) and Matthew Jordan (ENG). Players are selected by the European Golf Association with reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking and guidance from national coaches and officials. No more than two players may be selected from the same country.

Certainly no one would argue that our three representatives were not fully deserving of their places on the team – all three being in the Top 100 of the SPWAR.

Matthew Jordan played in the 2017 Walker Cup match in Los Angeles.

Here is the individual player contributions from the event: –

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Todd Clements and Matthew Jordan were paired together in both the Fourballs and Foursomes and played in all four series over the first two days. They lost both matches on Day 1 before enjoying a more productive Day 2; they halved their morning Fourball before winning their Foursomes. Clements went on to win his Singles on the final day but Jordan lost the penultimate, and ultimately deciding, game of the series on the final hole. Matthew had a 2 metre putt on the final green to halve his game (and the match, which would have enabled Europe to retain the trophy) but unfortunately missed it.

Jordan, currently GB&I’s highest ranked amateur, seems to be struggling a bit in the match play format of the game. Following the Bonallack Trophy his overall record over the last 12 months now reads P25 W6 H4 L15. Maybe he’s just been unlucky with the draw, playing up the order and his opponents play on the day.

Todd Clements, by winning his Singles, was able to come out of the match on the ‘right side of the line’. On the back of his 2017 English Amateur triumph and good performance at last year’s Men’s Home internationals he seems to be developing a sound match play record.

Robin Dawson was paired with Germany’s Marc Hammer. Whilst they didn’t play on the first morning they quickly cemented their place in the line up with a win in the afternoon. On Day 2 the pair threw away a very big lead to end up halving their Fourball. However, in the afternoon they recovered to win a second Foursomes together. Both lost their Singles games on the final day.

Whilst not the result they or I would have wished for the match was no doubt good experience for all of them. I have my fingers crossed that all three will still be playing amateur golf in September 2019 and can put it to use when the next Walker Cup is played.

Europe’s 2018 Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy Teams
Todd Clements, Matthew Jordan and Robin Dawson (back row l-r)
(Photo: European Golf Association)

Click here to view the – 2018 Bonallack Trophy Final Results

Click to view my more detailed match preview and reports on GolfBible – 2018 Bonallack Trophy Match

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5. Jack Hume Stars At The 2016 Bonallack Trophy

18th March 2016

Europe comfortably beat Asia-Pacific 21.5 – 10.5 in the 2016 Bonallack Trophy in Portugal.

Here is my analysis of the individual player contributions: –

Jack Hume (IRE) starred for Europe winning all four of the matches he was selected for. He has made a superb start to the season. The only surprise in Portugal was that he was rested for a session, the Day Fourballs.

David Boote (WAL) won three of his four matches, only losing his Day 1 Fourball where he was paired with Stefano Mazzoli (ITA).

Ashton Turner (ENG) was the only other GB&I player to win 3 matches. Paired with Bradley Moore (ENG) he lost his Day 1 Foursomes and Day 2 Fourball.

Grant Forrest (SCO) and Jack McDonald (SCO), who were paired together in the Foursomes and Fourballs, and Bradley Moore all lost their Final Day Singles matches thus falling into ‘negative territory’ in my analysis.

Finally, I am starting to develop the view that Bradley Moore’s match play performances are not comparable with his consistently strong stroke play results. I am going to have to research this topic further.

Team Europe (Photo: Hugo Ribeiro / FPG)

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4. Europe Announces It’s 2016 Bonallack Trophy Team

22nd February 2016

The European Golf Association (EGA) have recently selected their Bonallack Trophy team for this year’s match against Asia-Pacific.

The 2014 Bonallack Trophy Winning European Team (Photo: EGA)

Players are supposedly selected with reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and guidance from national coaches and officials. No more than two players may be selected from the same country.

For the sake of completeness I thought it was worth recording the names of the six Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) players that have been included in the team: –

David BOOTE (WAL) – WAGR 79
Grant FORREST (SCO) – WAGR 25
Jack HUME (IRE) – WAGR 24
Jack MCDONALD (SCO) – WAGR 36
Bradley MOORE (ENG) – WAGR 54
Ashton TURNER (ENG) – WAGR 100

The rest of the 12-man European team are noted below: –

Ivan CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) – WAGR 11
Luca CIANCHETTI (ITA) – WAGR 85
Mario GALIANO AGUILA (ESP) – WAGR 20
Jeroen KRIETEMEIJER (NED) – WAGR 132
Stefano MAZZOLI (ITA) – WAGR 39
Robin PETERSSON (SWE) – WAGR 38

It is clearly premature to link this match with the 2017 Walker Cup selection process. Nevertheless the six GB&I players that have been invited to Portugal in March can take confidence from their inclusion and do now have the opportunity to put a marker down. Who knows demonstrating some match-play tenacity, highlighting a new playing partnership or even just being a good team member may help one of them somewhere down the line.

Ashley Chesters (ENG) and Gavin Moynihan (IRE) were both members of the 2014 Bonallack Trophy Team who were victorious in India. Both made the 2015 Walker Cup Team the following year. Other GB&I players in the 2014 team included Ryan Evans (ENG), Dermot McElroy (IRE) and James Ross (SCO). Evans and Ross chose to turn Pro before the Walker Cup whilst McElroy just missed out on selection.

N.B. The WAGR quoted above was taken from the 17th February 2016 listing.

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