The morning singles are in, and the analysis has been shared, EuroDov Reporter has Team Love leading Team Brannan by the narrowest of margins 7-5 heading into the afternoon round.

In 8 RyDov Cups the team leading in the morning has gone on to win the Cup, but three times the afternoon matches have overturned the result, and none more famously than the 2013 and 206 editions where Team Dov overturned a 4.5 – 1.5 deficit to win 7.5 – 4.5 and a 4-2 deficit to retain the Cup 6-6.

The afternoon matches matter and with such a tight morning session they could be crucial so let’s take a look at each match, and EuroDov Reporter's insight.

So, let’s get down to match 13.

Just like the morning sessions Andy Love is backing himself and leading the team out and he’s paired himself with 8-time RyDov Cupper David McColgan. They’ll face Allan Kinnear, who has made 5 appearances, partnered with his 6th partner in 6 years Andy McGregor.

Let’s start with Team Love. This is a partnership that many have wanted to see for some time now, and surprisingly it’s the first time we get the chance to see it in action. Love and McColgan are long term friends and founding members of the Tour and their ability to understand each other’s game and motivations should support them through this match.

Neither of them are slouches in this format too. Love is T8th on the all-time win list for the afternoon Greensomes winning 50% of his matches. McColgan sits in T7th with a 63%-win rate. You have to go back to 2019 before either of them lost a match in this format and they’ll be confident in their ability to keep it that way.

Their opponents couldn’t be more opposite ends of the spectrum. McGregor makes his 3’rd appearance in 2023 and is yet to record a win in this format but Kinnear, making his 6th appearance, is undefeated.

In fact, Kinnear feats in this format are legendary, a debut that featured an 8&7 win, followed by a 4&2 win the next year, then a 7&6 win in 2020, and a 6&5 win in 2021. In 2022 it was decidedly average 3&1 win but one that saw them go behind on four separate occasions before winning 4 of the last 6 holes and the match.

One of the most interesting points of Kinnear’s run is that he has partnered with 5 different players, and still managed to win so comprehensively.

With little over a month to go there is still time for handicap fluctuations but currently the handicap favour is in Team Brannan by 5 strokes. Albeit not an entirely unsurmountable handicap difference it will still be a challenge for Love/McColgan.

So, what does this all mean? Kinnear’s history cannot be ignored, his dominance in this format has been unparalleled – and was even transferred to the Carnegie Cup in 2023 - add in the fact it’s been done with 5 different partners it’s hard to ignore him as the X-factor.

He is, however, coming up against a very strong partnership, and whilst a new one, it’s one that knows each other’s games very well.

This is going to be a tight match, it’s not going to be won by huge margins, it’s going to come down the last few holes, where power play, isn’t necessary a huge advantage, with this in mind, I am going to give the win to Love/McColgan by the narrowest of margins.

Team Love 9 – 5 Team Brannan