The 2025 RyDov Cup will long be remembered for its drama, its subplots, and ultimately for Team Gowens’ dominant afternoon surge to secure the trophy. But for Stuart Allan, captain of Team Allan, it will also be remembered as a personal chapter of pride, frustration, and finality. In his own words, Allan has offered a candid reflection on what it meant to lead — and lose — on one of the EuroDov Tour’s most storied stages.

The Captaincy Experience

Allan was frank about his approach to the role. “Even despite the result, I really enjoyed the captaincy experience,” he admitted. “However, given commitments elsewhere, I don’t feel I gave it the focus and priority it deserves. How much that resulted in the loss is debatable, but if I were to commit again it would need to be when it was given the attention it deserves.”

That admission strikes at the heart of the captaincy challenge: the RyDov Cup isn’t just about playing golf, it’s about months of preparation, strategic thought, and managing the personalities of twelve different players. Allan’s acknowledgment of divided focus hints at just how heavy the responsibility can be.

Morning Momentum

The opening singles left Team Allan trailing 7–5. Not a disaster, but not ideal. “The morning is jostling for position before the big points in the afternoon are available,” Allan said. “A few breaks would have seen us at least level so the challenge for the afternoon was to win the session and take it from there.”

It was a measured perspective — one rooted in the RyDov Cup’s history, where afternoons have often defined destinies. But as the afternoon unfolded, the plan did not materialise.

Greensomes and the Decisive Afternoon

If the morning was close, the afternoon was decisive. Gowens’ side won four of the six matches and wrestled control of the Cup. Allan reflected candidly: “The original roster changed in the lead up to the day and it didn’t really reflect the team strategy. I did notice Team Gowens had a specific strategy that we couldn’t replicate. If that had a deciding impact, we’ll never know.”

Strategy matters, but execution is everything. “At the level most of the group play, it is all about execution,” Allan admitted. “The best strategy only matters when you have the right team to execute and with so many variables in the wider group ability, it is solely down to performance on the day.”

McColgan’s Triple Burden

One of the defining storylines of 2025 was David McColgan playing two singles matches in the morning and then a Greensomes match alone in the afternoon. For Allan, it was both necessity and belief. “A big part of the day is the format and I’m sure David would have preferred to play it in its original plan,” he said. “However, Dave being at such a high level I felt gave us a good chance and as always he delivered points for the team.”

It was vintage Allan: pragmatic, honest, but also deeply appreciative of his teammate’s effort.

Tight Margins, Harsh Lessons

Several of Team Allan’s defeats came late, on the 17th and 18th greens. “These events, as we have seen in previous years and Carnegie Cups, can be swung on small margins,” Allan said. “Missed putts or stray tee shots late in the round can impact overall and on this occasion it went against us.”

As a competitor himself, Allan was not immune. He failed to score a point, losing his singles to Richard Mair — whose perfect RyDov record remains intact — and his Greensomes alongside Scott Gowens. Yet Allan remained stoic: “When on the course I’m playing for points to help the team, so I don’t think captaincy affected that. Despite zero points, I played well enough, but it wasn’t to be.”

Standout Performers

Even in defeat, Allan highlighted positives. “Greenshields and Duncan deserve a mention,” he said, “largely because it was such a potentially volatile pairing. However, we hoped it would be a positive reaction and maximum points gained is a testament to Ally managing Alan across the line across both formats.”

His praise reflected a captain’s pride in the small victories, even as the larger prize slipped away.

Lessons and Legacy

Asked about the biggest lesson he’ll take away, Allan was blunt: “Contingency planning is key — both in roster changes and personnel attendance. Personally, win my own matches would be a good start!”

And as for his future? His answer was unequivocal. “Unless off the course significantly changes, this is my only captaincy. I hereby announce my formal rejection of any future captaincy proposals. Please take note.”

A Final Word

It was a typically dry, typically honest conclusion from a man who has always worn his competitive heart on his sleeve. Stuart Allan’s captaincy may not have yielded the result he wanted, but in offering such a candid reflection, he has added a rare layer of transparency to RyDov history.

In years to come, the 2025 Cup will be remembered for Paul Gowens’ triumphant leadership, Richard Mair’s perfection, and David McColgan’s extraordinary triple shift. But it will also be remembered for Allan’s honesty in defeat — a reminder that leadership is not just about lifting trophies, but about standing tall when the scoreboard reads the other way.