The Southern Hemisphere staged a dramatic comeback during the afternoon singles to win the inaugural Icons of Rugby golf tournament 18.5-17.5, held at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club.
Team South captain Michael Campbell got the perfect response from his players as they trailed by two points heading into the singles. His team claimed 7.5 points from a possible 12,as George Gregan, Christian Cullen, Fourie Du Preez and Grant Fox put blue on the board early winning the first four games to turn the tide in South’s favour.
Welshman Tom Shanklin gave Sam Torrance and Team North a lifeline beating Australian Andrew Mehrtens in game five (3&2), but it was short lived as another wave of blue was coming up behind. Matt Burke (beat Jeremy Guscott 3&2), John Smith (Martyn Williams 2up) and Victor Matfield (Stuart Hogg 3&1) put Team South within touching distance of the trophy.
Sir Gareth Edwards claimed his first win of the tournament for the Northern Hemisphere with a 3&2 victory over Sean Fitzpatrick, before South Africa’s record try scorer Bryan Habana recorded the vital half-a-point needed for Team South to start celebrating victory.
“I guess the Northern Hemisphere boys are used to the feeling of losing against the Southern boys,” said Campbell. “I’m delighted, I really am. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the Icons of Rugby. It’s my first time being a captain, it’s been great to make so many friends on both teams. Maybe the North boys won in the bar, but I’m happy to be holding the trophy.”
Both teams won three matches each during the morning greensomes to be 13-11 (to Team North) going into the afternoon singles. Mike Tindall and Mike Catt made it four wins from four in game one with a 2&1 victory over Du Preez and Smit. Brian O’Driscoll and Jeremy Guscott (4&3 over Mehrtens & Habana) and Keith Wood and Sir Clive Woodward (1up over Burke & Fitzpatrick) were the other victors for the Northern Hemisphere.
Vital wins for Gregan and Grant Fox (2up over Hogg and Shanklin), Cullen and Matfield (2&1 over Luke Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Davies) and Jake White and Zinzan Brooke (3&1 over Williams and Edwards) provided the Southern Hemisphere with much needed momentum going into the all-important singles.
Some of the biggest names ever to play the game competed in their second favourite sport over nine holes in various formats ending with 12 singles matches on Sunday afternoon to decide the winning team.
“I take my hat off to Michael and the boys, it was a great day’s play and they played incredible golf this afternoon,” said Torrance. “Every bit of this event has been fantastic, apart from the losing part! I want to say thank you to my team who have been incredible both days, but we just didn’t get the luck in the singles.”