A Cup Like No Other

There are few tournaments in golf — even on the EuroDov Tour — that carry the mystique, pressure, and drama of the RyDov Cup. Since its birth in 2013, the event has grown from a dozen players experimenting with matchplay into the Tour’s traditional showpiece, the season’s climactic exclamation point.

The 2025 edition at Kinross did not disappoint. Captains Stuart Allan and Paul Gowens brought twelve players each into battle, with history, pride, and personal legacies all on the line.

But this year’s Cup wasn’t only about the scoreboard. It was about the voices behind the swings — the characters who shaped its story. And in their own words, they painted a vivid picture of triumph, frustration, humour, and resilience.
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Singles Morning: Tension on the Tee

The morning singles offered 12 matches, 12 stories, and a kaleidoscope of emotions. It was the arena where reputations were built and frayed.

Peck: “The EuroDov Destroyer”

Daniel Peck strolled onto the tee with trademark swagger, eventually dismantling Allan Kinnear 4&2. But it was in the interview room afterward that he truly lit the fireworks.

“Put me in any format against the EuroDov boys and I’ll win,” Peck declared. “The EuroDov is slowly being usurped by the SanWedge players… They’ve let the proverbial fox in the chicken coop.”

For Peck, the RyDov Cup is more than a match; it’s a stage for his running rivalry with EuroDov traditionalists. His 88% Greensomes record is unmatched, and he carried Denis Duncan to a 2Up afternoon win. “I dragged him through the day,” he quipped. “He was lucky to be paired with arguably the best Greensomes player in RyDov history.”

Love him or loathe him, Peck’s voice captured one theme of 2025: the rise of SanWedge influence and the discomfort it stirs in EuroDov stalwarts.

Brannan: The Veteran’s Burden

Few players embody the Cup’s history like Kevin Brannan. Nine appearances, seven wins, and the respect of peers. Yet once again, he walked away empty-handed.

Facing Player of the Year Paul Gowens in singles, Brannan fought valiantly before falling 1Down on 18. “It was always going to be incredibly difficult against arguably the steadiest player on Tour,” he admitted. “The match was great to be part of… but Gowens was just steadier over the final few holes.”

Later, paired with Brian Ritchie in Greensomes, Brannan faltered again. “Our performance off the tee was great,” he said, “but our inability to execute a chip or pitch from less than 100 yards killed us.”

Brannan is self-critical: “I need to turn around my personal record. It’s unacceptable. Maybe it’s a mental issue.” Yet his reverence for the Cup never wavers. “It’s the cornerstone of the Tour… there’s no better feeling than lifting it.”

Scott Gowens: A Tough Day in Red

For Paul’s son Scott, the 2025 Cup was bittersweet. Beaten 4&3 by vice-captain Stuart Sutherland in the morning, then falling alongside Stuart Allan in the afternoon, he struggled to find rhythm.

“After the 12th, Stu came to life and there was nothing I could do,” Scott reflected. “Congrats to him, a deserved winner.”

But his disappointment was palpable: “I feel I let my partner and the team down in the afternoon. I can’t lie, I’m disappointed to take no points from my 2nd RyDov Cup.”

Yet there was also pride: “The prospect of being on a team taking it away from my dad did excite me… but I’m proud of him captaining the team to back-to-back wins.”
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Afternoon Greensomes: Partnerships and Pressure

The afternoon matches have always defined the RyDov Cup. Strategy matters, chemistry matters, and momentum often tilts decisively.

McColgan: Triple Duty

If one player embodied the endurance and spirit of 2025, it was David McColgan. In a twist of fate, he played not one, but two singles matches in the morning — beating Stuart Anderson 8&6 and Jim Robertson 3&2 — before being sent out alone in the afternoon Greensomes.

“It was landed on me 40 minutes before the first tee,” McColgan explained. “You just need to trust the process.”

The singles were brutal but clinical: two wins, two points. But the solo Greensomes — against Graeme Connor and Stuart Sutherland — was a bridge too far. “It has to be the tee shots,” he admitted. “I lost three holes because of tee shots that found trouble. If I had a partner, we’d have had a second go.”

Yet his attitude won respect: “The RyDov Cup asks every player to stand up, be weighed, be measured. I was just asked to do it a bit more than most.”

Fuelled by a four-pack of Boosts, McColgan walked into folklore. Triple duty has never been attempted before — and may never be again.

Mair: Flight of the Unbeaten Eagle

Richard Mair is becoming the Cup’s quiet assassin. With a 2Up singles win over Allan and a Greensomes victory alongside Paul Gowens, he stretched his career record to four appearances, four perfect campaigns.
“I’ve got home advantage at Kinross,” he smiled. “Good partners and a lot of luck.”

Beating Allan, the opposing captain, was his highlight: “It was quite a nervy finish… Stuart played exceptional golf on the back 9. It felt like 2 points won.”

On pairing with Paul? “No nonsense, metronomic golf. Paul is always in play. I questioned the selection at first, but that’s why I’m not the captain.”

And yes, he reminds teammates of his record: “Daily reminders, weekly e-mails, monthly newsletters…”
His self-styled film title? Flight of the Unbeaten Eagle. Enough said.

Love: The Entertainer

Andy Love remains one of the Cup’s enigmas — capable of brilliance, controversy, and humour in equal measure.

His morning 2Up win over Craig Miller was scrappy but vital. “It wasn’t confidence, just assuredness I could contribute,” he said.

But the afternoon Greensomes with debutant Matt Moores ended in a 4&3 loss to Duncan and Greenshields. “We didn’t start well, they did, and it sort of stayed that way,” Love admitted. “I knew they’d either play very well together, or totally combust. Sadly, it was the former.”

And yet Love claimed the moment of the tournament: “This year I’ve provided the Tour with the best shot it’s ever seen. Even though I’m not as prominent these days, I still provide moments people cherish.”

The entertainer remains box office — win or lose.

Greenshields: Rising Pillar

Ally Greenshields had one of the standout days, first toppling Denis Duncan 4&2, then teaming with Alan Duncan to dispatch Love and Moores 4&3.

“The rule when playing a Duncan is keep the ball in play and let them self-destruct,” he grinned. “When you’ve got one on your side, the tactic changes — you’ve got to stop the implosion instead.”

Now boasting a 75% Cup win rate, Greenshields is emerging as a cornerstone of Team Allan. “Hopefully I can remain sober enough in future tournaments to improve on this,” he joked.

Asked about captaincy, he smirked: “Maybe a head-to-head with a SanWedge player.”
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Pressure Points and Punchlines

While the Cup is serious business, its heart beats with humour, resilience, and rivalry.
McNeill: Twitching Putts and Banter

Callum McNeill’s 1Up win over John Hedges was one of the closest matches of the morning. Standing over a nervy two-footer on 18, he admitted: “My arse was twitching. Seeing the captain march out only made it worse.”

He later paired with Joel Morrison for a Greensomes win, despite hating the format. “I find it hard to get into rhythm and feel guilty for sticking my partner in the shite. Playing with Joel settled me.”

McNeill revels in the one-on-one: “I’m certainly a chirpy little bastard when I get a couple up. Always good to see the reaction it incurs.”

On his highlight? “The SanWedge Tour essentially sealing it for Paul is sweet.”

Brannan: Walk-On Music

Brannan, ever candid, named his walk-on songs as Divinyls – I Touch Myself and The Stone Roses – I Am the Resurrection. A veteran’s choice if ever there was one.

Peck: Cheat Code Wedge

Peck’s self-declared cheat code? A 52-degree wedge from 100 yards. “It doesn’t miss. Like a cheat code in many ways.”
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Legacy and Laughter

The 2025 RyDov Cup wasn’t just about who won (Team Gowens, 15–9) but how it will be remembered.

• McColgan’s triple duty will stand as an act of loyalty and grit rarely seen in sport.
• Mair’s perfection extends a streak that seems untouchable.
• Peck and Greenshields embodied the SanWedge vs EuroDov fault line.
• Brannan and Love reminded us that humour and honesty are as much part of the Cup as birdies and bogeys.
• McNeill and Scott Gowens revealed the vulnerability of players still carving their legacy.

The RyDov Cup is about more than numbers. It is about the characters who animate them, the rivalries that fuel them, and the laughter that punctuates them.

As McColgan himself said: “The RyDov Cup asks every player to stand up, be weighed, be measured and prove their value.” In 2025, every player did — in their own words.