The Winning 2018 Asia-Pacific Team (Photo: Jayaram)
Asia-Pacific Captain Matt Cutler With The Bonallack Trophy (Photo: Matt Cutler)
10th March 2018
Asia-Pacific won the 2018 Bonallack Trophy match 16.5 – 15.5 at Doha GC in Qatar.
This was just the third time Asia-Pacific had prevailed. Their previous wins coming in 2002 and 2004.
The home team overturned a two point deficit at the start of play by winning the day 3 Singles series 7.5 – 4.5.
Europe’s four Singles wins came from Todd Clements (ENG), Sami Valimaki (FIN), Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) and Oliver Gilbert (SWE). Angel Hidalgo Portillo (ESP) halved his game.
Click here to view the – 2018 Bonallack Trophy Final Results
Looking at the individual player performances Daniel Hillier (NZ) was the star performer for the winning Asia-Pacific team. He recorded 3 wins and two draws and as such was the only unbeaten player in the event. He has moved up 10 places to No. 57 in the SPWAR.
Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) made the best contribution for Europe. He delivered three wins in his four games. He has moved up 21 places to No. 158 in the SPWAR.
Finally here is the updated Great Britain & Ireland Bonallack Trophy playing records data.
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9th March 2018
Europe turned the match around on Day 2. They now lead Asia-Pacific 11 – 9 with just tomorrow’s 12 Singles to be played.
Afternoon
In what could prove to be the critical session of the 2018 Bonallack Trophy match Europe secured 3.5 points in the Day 2 Foursomes.
Frederic Lacroix (FRA) / Edgar Catherine (FRA), Robin Dawson (IRE) / Marc Hammer (GER) and Matthew Jordan (ENG) / Todd Clements (ENG) all delivered victories for Europe.
Morning
The Day 2 Fourballs were again very competitive with two of the games halved. Europe won the series 3-2 to draw level with Asia-Pacific in the match 7.5 – 7.5.
Sam Valimaki (FIN) / Matias Honkala (FIN) and Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) / Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) were the two European pairs to deliver wins.
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8th March 2018
Asia-Pacific lead the Bonallack Trophy 5.5 – 4.5 in Qatar after the conclusion of play on Day 1.
Afternoon
The Day 1 Foursomes proved to be more successful for Europe who won the series 3 – 2.
The Robin Dawson (IRE) / Marc Hammer (GER), Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) / Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) and Frederic Lacroix (FRA) / Edgar Catherine (FRA) pairs secured the three wins for Europe.
Morning
Asia-Pacific won the Day 1 Fourball session 3.5 – 1.5, coming out on top in games 2 and 3, both of which were tight affairs.
Oliver Gilbert (SWE) and Angel Hidalgo Portillo (ESP) secured Europe’s only win in Game 5.
(Scoreboard Photos: Qatar Golf Association / European Golf Association / Golfbox)
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6th March 2018
The Bonallack Trophy is a 3-day biennial amateur match played between 12-man teams representing Europe and Asia-Pacific.
It is named in honour of Sir Michael Bonallack, one of Great Britain and Ireland’s (GB&I) greatest ever amateur golfers and formerly Secretary of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (1984-99).
The 2018 match will take place between 8th-10th March at Doha GC in Qatar.
Europe, led by an unbeaten Jack HUME (IRE / W4) and Mario Galiano (ESP / W4 L1), won the Trophy in 2016 beating Asia-Pacific 21.5 – 10.5 at Vidago Palace in Portugal. Full Results
The match was first played in 1998 and Europe now lead Asia-Pacific 7 – 2 in the history of the event.
The Winning 2016 Europe Team (Photo: Hugo Ribeiro / FPG)
Players and Teams
The European Golf Association and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation select the two 12-man teams.
Players are selected with reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking and guidance from national coaches and officials. The two captains also have an unspecified number of picks to provide flexibility.
No more than two players may be selected from the same country.
Both Captain’s, Alexis Godillot and Matt Cutler, will be reprising their 2016 roles in Qatar.
Gregory Foo (SGP) and Takumi Kanaya (JAP) are the only players returning to the match. All of the other players will be making their debuts in 2018.
Three GB&I players have been selected for the European team. There were six in Europe’s 2016 team. Matthew JORDAN (ENG) represented GB&I in the 2017 Walker Cup match in Los Angeles last September.
Europe
Alexis GODILLOT (FRA) – Non-Playing Captain
Edgar CATHERINE (FRA) – SPWAR 63
Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) – SPWAR 75
Robin DAWSON (IRE) – SPWAR 92
Oliver GILLBERG (SWE) – SPWAR 44
Marc HAMMER (GER) – SPWAR 536
Angel HIDALGO PORTILLO (ESP) – SPWAR 70
Rasmus HOJGAARD (DEN) – SPWAR 201
Matias HONKALA (FIN) – SPWAR 430
Matthew JORDAN (ENG) – SPWAR 28
Frédéric LACROIX (FRA) – SPWAR 74
Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) – SPWAR 179
Sami VALIMAKI (FIN) – SPWAR 76
Asia-Pacific
Matt CUTLER (AUS) – Non-Playing Captain
Andy YAMANAKA (JAP) – Vice captain
Gregory FOO (SGP) – SPWAR 119
Lloyd Jefferson GO (PHI) – SPWAR 24
Jaemin HAN (KOR) – SPWAR 1,505
Daniel HILLIER (NZ) – SPWAR 67
Takumi KANAYA (JAP) – SPWAR 21
Sadom KEAWKANJANA (THA) – SPWAR 62
Dong-Min KIM (KOR) – SPWAR 333
Min Woo LEE (AUS) – SPWAR 5
Kammalas NAMUANGRUK (THA) – SPWAR 122
Kazuya OSAWA (JAP) – SPWAR 316
Rayhan THOMAS (IND) – SPWAR 208
Shae WOOLS-COBB (AUS) – SPWAR 43
The current Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings (SPWAR) suggest Europe have the strongest team on paper. Europe’s total team SPWAR being 1,868 versus Asia-Pacific’s 2,825.
However, Asia-Pacific have 6 players in the top 100 to Europe’s 8 so are certainly not without some real quality. In Min Woo Lee, US Junior Amateur champion in 2016, Asia-Pacific also have the best player on paper.
I expect a tighter match than last time where poor weather arguably didn’t help the visitors.
Match Play Format
On the first two days five fourball matches will be played in the morning (starting at 7.00am) and five foursome matches in the afternoon (starting at 12 noon).
On the final day all 12 team members will compete in singles (starting at 10.00am).
The times quoted above are local. Doha, Qatar is 3 hours ahead of the UK.
As is normal practice a win will deliver a point, a half half a point and a loss no points.
There are 32 points to play for with the winning team requiring 16.5 to claim the Trophy. In the event of a tie, the trophy is retained by the holders. Europe won the last match in Portugal in 2016.
Venue
This year the host course is Doha GC in Qatar.
The Doha Club is well known to followers of the European Tour as it has staged the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on many occasions. Eddie Pepperell won the Mother of Pearl Trophy in 2018 with a 270 (-18) score just a few weeks ago.
The Qatar Masters was played over a course measuring 7,400 yards and a par of 72.
The Bonallack Trophy is supposedly being played off the White Tees over 6,640 yards. The front nine is 3,512 yards and the back 3,128 yards, both with pars of 36. If this proves to be correct low scoring can be expected.
It is a typical Middle East desert course; designed by Peter Harradine, flat with plenty of water.
Rahan Thomas (IND) is Dubai-based and won the Qatar Open Amateur Championship at Doha in 2016 so will return with positive memories.
Doha Golf Club (Photo: Ping Golf Europe)
Past Results
Europe lead Asia-Pacific 7 – 2 in the Bonallack Trophy series.
2016 Vidago Palace, Portugal Europe 21.5 – 10.5
2014 Karnataka Golf, Bangalore, India Europe 17.5 – 14.5
2012 Monte Rei G&CC, Portugal Europe 21.5 – 10.5
2010 Karnataka Golf, Bangalore, India Cancelled *
2008 Valderrama, Spain Europe 20 – 12
2006 Auckland GC, New Zealand Europe 18 – 14
2004 Circolo Golf, Roma, Italy Asia-Pacific 16.5 – 15.5
2002 Hirono GC, Japan Asia-Pacific 18 – 14
2000 Puerta De Hierro, Madrid, Spain Europe 20 – 12
1998 Lake Karrinyup CC, Australia Europe 18 – 14
* Cancelled following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in Iceland which restricted air travel for the participants.
The Winning 2014 Europe Team (Photo: EGA)
Former Players
Notable GB&I
To date 99 different players have represented Europe in The Bonallack Trophy.
41 GB&I golfers have competed; 15 from England, 10 from Ireland, 10 from Scotland and 6 from Wales.
Career amateurs Nigel EDWARDS (WAL) and Gary WOLSTENHOLME (ENG) both played in four Bonallack Trophy matches.
Other GB&I players to compete include: –
Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) – 1998
Oliver FISHER (ENG) – 2006
Shane LOWRY (IRE) – 2008
Rory MCILROY (IRE) – 2006
Richie RAMSAY (SCO) – 2006
Justin ROSE (ENG) – 1998
Danny WILLETT (ENG) – 2008
Chris WOOD (ENG) – 2008
Notable Mainland Europeans
Of the 58 players from mainland Europe to play in the Bonallack Trophy the most notable have been: –
Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) – 2000
Gonzalo FERNANDEZ CASTRAÑO – 2004
Anders HANSEN (DEN) – 2002
Peter HANSON (SWE) – 1998
Mikko ILONEN (FIN) – 2000
Joost LUITEN (NED) – 2006
Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) – 2002-04
Francesco MOLINARI (ITA) – 2004
Renato PARATORE (ITA) – 2014
Notable Asia-Pacific
Notable former players from Asia-Pacific include: –
Marcus FRASER (AUS) – 2002
Shiv KAPUR (IND) – 2002
Hideki MATSUYAMA (JPN) – 2012
Geoff OGILVY (AUS) – 1998
Angelo QUE (PHI) – 2000
Brett RUMFORD (AUS) – 1998
Cameron SMITH (AUS) – 2012
ME.
Copyright © 2018, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.
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