EuroDov Reporter has poured over the stats, the form sheets and consulted their crystal ball and if they are right, we’re in for a real battle for the RyDov Cup.

After analysing all 12 singles matchups they have it poised at 6-6, with Team Gowens winning the final match – important because the team that wins that match has gone on to win the cup 67% of the time.

In the morning singles there is a point available for each match – 12 in total – and in the afternoon the Greensomes offers 2 points per match – meaning a further 12 points are available.

At this point it is worth remembering that Team Love require 14 points to retain the trophy, but Team Gowens require 14.5 points to win it.

Let’s unleash EuroDov Reporter on the stat books for one more time and see what they have to say on the 6 Greensomes matches and where the RyDov Cup will be headed after the close of play.

Match 2 features Stuart Allan & Alan Duncan v Scott Gowens & Graeme Rose.

This match has it all – the fire power of Allan, the ostentatious Alan Duncan, the rookie Scott Gowens and consummate golfer Graeme Rose – talk about a story line here. It’s like something out of the Wizard of Oz!
What’s more exciting about this match is it’s bare feet – yes both these teams handicaps cancel each other out, so no numerical advantage there.

Let’s break it down. Allan/Duncan isn’t a terrible pairing, these two know each other from way back and have the ability to bounce of each other on the way round. Allan’s driving is definitely going to be a weapon allowing Alan Duncan to put to use one of his strength his mid to short irons.

They’ll undoubtedly have a hole or two where it all goes awry but again, they are seasoned competitors who know how to pick themselves up, walk to the next tee and start all over again.

Alan Duncan’s history in the RyDov Cup has been bookended by his 2023 appearances and his rookie 2016 appearance. In 2016 as a rookie, he sunk a 20-footer to win the final match of the day and secure the trophy for Team Dov then 9 years later again in the final match he was part of a collapse that saw Team Brannan lead after 15 holes only to lose it all on the 18th green, the match and the Cup.

Graeme Rose on the other hand lost his rookie Greensomes but in 2023 he was one half of the pair that put Alan Duncan and Stuart Harwood to the sword over the closing 3 holes – his majestic play from the tee set up his partner Hedges Snr. With a 20-foot birdie putt on 16, a simple 40-yard wedge on 17 and again a 50-yard wedge on 18, displaying the importance of great tee play in Greensomes.

Outside of these pair we’ve got Stuart Allan making his 7th appearance with a 58%-win rate in the format and Scott Gowens making his debut.

This game has all the hallmarks of no halved holes and the score just bouncing back and forth all day but I am going to err on the side of caution here and go with the team that will delivery consistency over 18 holes and call it for Team Gowens.

Team Love 8 – 8 Team Gowens