Beyond the Folklore

The RyDov Cup has always thrived on drama. From Christopher Bell’s nerveless 18-footer in 2013 to Graeme Rose and Stephen Hedges storming back from the dead in 2023, the competition’s legacy is built on collapses, comebacks, and captaincy gambles. But ten editions in, as the Cup matures into a cornerstone of the EuroDov Tour, it’s time to peel back the layers of myth and look at what the numbers really tell us.

Appearances, points, win percentages — they offer a different lens. Sometimes they confirm the legends; other times they expose inconvenient truths. Is Kevin Brannan really the Cup’s ultimate talisman? Does Alan Kinnear’s near-perfect record make him the greatest RyDov player of all? And how do we balance a debutant’s flash of brilliance with the grind of a decade-long veteran?

In this analysis, we’ll dive into the full statistical record of every player to have teed it up in the Cup, breaking the field into categories: the iron men, the point machines, the specialists, the cup collectors, and the one-hit wonders.

The Iron Men – Longevity, Loyalty, and the Weight of Appearances

The RyDov Cup has always been about commitment. Showing up year after year, weathering the nerves of the 18th green, and carrying the hopes of your captain is no small task. Only two players have reached double-digit appearances: Stuart Sutherland and David McColgan, both at ten.

Stuart Sutherland has 16.5 total points from those ten appearances (55% win rate), and six Cup wins (60%). His record isn’t spectacular, but it’s steady — he’s the Cup’s metronome, the player who always seems to be there when the teams assemble at Kinross.

David McColgan, by contrast, marries volume with success. Ten appearances, 16.5 points (55%), and a staggering eight Cups won (80%). That blend of consistency and silverware makes him the dynasty figure of the first decade.

Behind them is a cluster of names who define the Cup’s middle years: Stephen Hedges (9 apps, 12.5 pts, 46%), John Hedges (9 apps, 11.5 pts, 43%), and Denis Duncan (9 apps, 12 pts, 44%). They’ve all had their moments — Stephen’s famous 2016 rally over McColgan, John’s father-son captaincy role, Denis’ captaincy breakthrough — but their overall records suggest careers of peaks and troughs.

What these veterans prove is that longevity does not always equal dominance. Compare them with Alan Kinnear (6 apps, 15.5 pts, 86%) or Richard Mair (3 apps, 9 pts, 100%) — fewer appearances, but vastly higher efficiency.

And then there are the hard-luck stories. William McColgan has seven appearances, but only five points (24%). He’s lifted the Cup twice, but his stats show just how unforgiving the format can be for players caught on the wrong side of history.

In short: appearances matter for folklore. They don’t always matter for legacy.

The Point Machines – Efficiency Kings

If appearances are about endurance, points are about productivity. Who delivers most when it counts?

The headline act is Alan Kinnear. With 15.5 points from just six appearances, his 86% win rate is unmatched among long-term players. Even more impressively, he has a perfect 100% record in Greensomes (12 from 12). He might not yet have McColgan’s Cups, but on pure efficiency, he’s the Cup’s statistical GOAT.

Then there’s Richard Mair. Only three appearances, but a perfect 100% across singles and Greensomes. He’s banked nine points, and while the sample is small, no one has been more clinical in the matches he’s played.

Graeme Connor is another underappreciated point machine: six appearances, 12 points, 67% win rate. He doesn’t have the flashiest wins, but he’s reliable — the kind of player captains dream of slotting into the middle order.

Daniel Peck offers a fascinating contrast. Seven appearances, 13 points, 62% overall. Strong numbers, but break them down and the imbalance is startling: just 14% singles wins against 86% in Greensomes. Peck is a Greensomes assassin, but in singles, he’s vulnerable.

At the other end of the spectrum lies Kevin Brannan. Eight appearances, just eight points — a meagre 33% return. By raw points, his record looks pedestrian. But as we’ll see later, Cups won tell a very different story.

Specialists – Singles Stars vs. Greensomes Titans

One of the great tactical questions in the RyDov Cup is how to use players’ strengths. Some thrive in the isolation of singles; others feed off the camaraderie of Greensomes. The stats expose these patterns.

Singles Specialists -

Richard Mair: 3 from 3, 100% singles record. Untouchable so far.

Paul Gowens: 3 from 3, also perfect, though with fewer appearances.

Rory Malloch & Joel Morrison: both 1 from 1, small sample brilliance but dominant debuts.

Stuart Sutherland: 6.5 singles points from 10, a 65% hit rate — solid for a veteran.

Greensomes Titans -

Alan Kinnear: 12 from 12, a perfect 100% Greensomes record.

Ryan Strachan: 4 from 4, also perfect.

Christopher Bell: remembered for that 2013 putt, but his stats back it up — 2 from 2 in Greensomes, 100%.

Daniel Peck: 12 from 14, 86%. Weak singles record, but a team-game force.

The Imbalanced -

Kevin Brannan: 50% in singles, but just 25% in Greensomes. Suggests a player better alone than paired.

Stephen Hedges: 39% singles, 50% Greensomes. Middling across both.

Graeme Connor: a rare balance — 67% in both formats.

These splits matter. They show why captains agonise over pairings, and why reputations get built in one format and shredded in another. Peck’s Greensomes dominance, for example, makes him invaluable in the afternoon, even if his singles record leaves him exposed in the morning.

Cup Collectors – The Trophy Hoarders

At the end of the day, the RyDov Cup is about the silverware. You can rack up points, but what the record books remember are Cups won.

David McColgan sits atop the mountain: 8 Cups from 10 appearances (80%). Dynasty captain, dynasty player.

Kevin Brannan is the anomaly: 7 Cups from 8 appearances (88%), despite only 33% points. He’s the Cup’s talisman — not dominant individually, but always on the right side of history.

Paul Gowens is a perfect 3 from 3 (100%). A short but flawless record.

Stuart Sutherland has 6 from 10, a 60% strike rate. Quietly one of the Cup’s most decorated players.

Graeme Connor and Alan Kinnear both boast 4 from 6 (67%). Balanced and effective.

The debate here is fascinating. Do we value McColgan’s dynasty, where Cups and points align? Or do we marvel at Brannan’s trophy luck, where team success has outstripped individual performance?

It also raises questions about captaincy. Brannan’s 2022 triumph as a late call-up shows his influence isn’t just luck. But his stats suggest he is more figurehead than engine.

Rookies & Short-Term Legends

Every RyDov era produces rookies who shine bright. Some fade, some endure, but their stats often leap off the page.

Richard Mair (3 apps, 100%) – already mentioned, but his record is absurd.

Ryan Strachan (2 apps, 83% total, 100% Cups, 100% Greensomes) – flawless so far.

Christopher Bell (1 app, 83%, 100% Greensomes) – the inaugural hero, immortalised by that putt.

Joel Morrison (1 app, 33% overall, but a 6&5 singles demolition of McColgan) – raw dominance in his debut.

Danny Wood (1 app, 3 points, 100%) – another perfect start.

The question with rookies is always: can they sustain it? Morrison and Wood look like future stars, but the RyDov Cup has seen many a blazing debut fade into obscurity.

On the flip side, some short-term legends never repeat the trick. James Webb (1 app, 17%), Stuart Anderson (2 apps, 0%), and Stuart Harwood (2 apps, 0%) — names that remind us that not every story ends in glory.

Conclusion: Who Is the Greatest RyDov Player?

So, ten Cups in, who deserves the mantle of greatest RyDov player? The answer depends on your criteria.

Most decorated: David McColgan — 8 Cups, 16.5 points, the face of the first decade.

Most efficient: Alan Kinnear — 86% points, 100% Greensomes. A statistical juggernaut.

Clutchest: Christopher Bell, Alan Duncan, Callum McNeill — names synonymous with decisive putts under pressure.

Talismanic: Kevin Brannan — 7 Cups from 8, the Cup collector despite modest personal returns.

Rising stars: Richard Mair, Ryan Strachan, Danny Wood, Joel Morrison — if they sustain these records, the next decade could belong to them.

What the stats ultimately show is that the RyDov Cup isn’t just about skill; it’s about timing, partnerships, and psychology. Some players thrive in the one-on-one glare of singles; others find magic in Greensomes synergy. Some accumulate points but miss Cups; others collect trophies despite modest returns.

And that is what makes the RyDov Cup unique. Ten years on, its folklore is written not just in numbers but in moments: Bell’s putt in 2013, Duncan’s dagger in 2019, McNeill’s comeback in 2023. The stats give us patterns, but the stories give us soul.

The next decade will bring more rookies, more captains, more drama at Kinross. And somewhere in the numbers of 2034, we’ll find the legends of tomorrow.