Record turnout marks centenary of Town Match in St Andrews
More than 900 golfers celebrate tradition as Royal and Ancient defeat the town side
Las Vegas - A record 916 golfers competed in the 100th staging of the Town Match in St Andrews on Saturday, the largest single-day amateur contest of its kind in the world.
The foursomes match, first played in 1913, saw The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews face a side from the town across the Old, New, Jubilee and Strathtyrum Courses. A total of 229 matches began at dawn and ran until dusk, with the Club prevailing 122½–106½.
“The Town Match embodies the community spirit of St Andrews,” said organiser David Sandford, who has played every year since 1996. “It’s an exceptional event, a great social occasion, and over the years people have even travelled from America just to play.”
The competition is part of the Club’s annual Autumn Meeting and reinforces ties with local clubs – St Andrews, New, St Regulus and St Rule – as well as students and staff from the University. Players this year included 1985 Champion Golfer of the Year Sandy Lyle, who won his match on the Old Course with hickory clubs.
Each golfer received a commemorative bag tag to mark the centenary, and the Bobby Jones Casket was presented to Club captain Ian Pattinson. With continued growth and support from St Andrews Links Trust, the world’s biggest one-day match looks set to thrive for another century.