Golf - ISPC Seychelles Ryder Cup 2016 a roaring success! |06 October 2016

Coinciding with the much-anticipated Europe versus USA biannual pro golf Ryder Cup, the Seychelles Ryder Cup 2016, sponsored by ISPC, was held over the same weekend of October 1-2, 2016 at the Seychelles golf club, Anse Aux Pins.

Sixty-two players were split into two overall teams, the ‘White’ team captained by local pro golfer Gary Pouponneau and the ‘Pink’ team captained by the Seychelles golf club pro William Weidner.

Day one saw pairings of two from each team compete against each other to earn a crucial point (or half a point if a match is tied), whereas day two pitted one player from the ‘White’ team against one player from the ‘Pink’ team in a singles shootout.  

As per the international event, the competition was competed under the match play format, whereby all competitors compete hole by hole to win as many as they can out of the 18 holes to claim victory. Emotions ran super high on day one as the pairings came out fighting.

Golf is mostly an individual sport, but on occasion, in team events like these, you will find that golfers lift themselves to an unprecedented level as they play for someone else other than themselves. After all the screams, the moans, the groans, fist pumps and high fives, day one came to a close with the ‘Whites’ leading the ‘Pinks’ by 3 points (9.5 points against 6.5 points).

The players were up bright and early on Sunday morning, eager to take on their respective opponents in the singles match play and add more points to their teams’ tally. Thirty-one matches unfolded throughout the blistering hot day and the ‘Pinks’ did their best to try and close the gap. The ‘Whites’ had other ideas, however, and towards the close of play, it became clear that the gap had in fact widened! As each point got marked on the scoreboard, massive roars from the finished players rang out until eventually the final tally read: 19.5 points to the ‘Pinks’ and 27.5 points to the ‘Whites’ – an overwhelming 8-point victory margin!

Thierry Pilette from ISPC, a keen golfer himself, with a few members of his brilliant team, was on hand to present the trophy to the winning captain of the ‘White’ team, Gary Pouponneau. Each team member also collected a special edition bottle of wine, commemorating the international Ryder Cup of 2016. Subsidiary prizes were also given to partners Nahim Agricole and Adrian Andrade (nearest to the pin on hole 4), Gary Pouponneau (nearest to the pin on hole 13) and Damien Hoareau (longest drive on hole 9). Even a somewhat embarrassing prize went to Michael Lavigne for the shortest drive off the tee – all of 45cm (some say the shot even went backwards!).

The day ended with a scrumptious lunch for all guests and players courtesy of the generous sponsors, ISPC, who vowed to continue this amazing event into the future.

Contributed