Representing Trent College in the prestigious Cyril Gray Foursomes tournament at Worplesdon Golf Club, OT golfers delivered a spirited and memorable performance, battling fierce competition and soaring temperatures.  The Old Tridents Golf Society team notched up two impressive victories before bowing out at the quarter-final stage.

“Trent made a statement from the very first match”

The opening match saw Trent take on 2019 champions Liverpool, and make a statement! The trio of pairings: Brendan O’Neil & Colin MacDougall, Jon Carter & Stuart Carlisle, and John Bailey & Tim Knowles, secured a superb 2–1 victory. Standout performers Brendan and Colin were in exceptional form, dropping just a couple of shots over 18 holes to defeat Liverpool’s top pair.

Next up were Fettes, who confessed they had expected to face Liverpool rather than Trent, a comment that the team took as a real compliment! Trent rose to the occasion once again, securing another 2–1 win. The decisive point came from John and Tim, who held their nerve brilliantly down the 18th hole as their opponents faltered under pressure.

The quarter-finals brought a stern test against Watson’s, another highly regarded Scottish school with a strong golfing pedigree and one of the tournament favourites. Despite a determined effort, Trent fell 2½–½ to a side that ultimately went on to lift the trophy.

“Every pairing contributed with at least one win, a real reflection of the strength of the team.”

There were plenty of highlights across the week. Peter Kilford joined the team for the practice day, while Brendan and Tim made impressive tournament debuts. Encouragingly, every pairing contributed with at least one win, clear evidence of a strong all-round team performance, spearheaded by Stuart and Jon remaining undefeated.

A special mention goes to Colin MacDougall, who announced this would be his final Cyril Gray appearance as he prepares to relocate to South Africa. Colin will be greatly missed, not only for his excellent company and entertaining stories off the course, but also for his outstanding performances on it. Regularly facing the opposition’s strongest pair, Colin consistently rose to the challenge and more often than not, came out on top.

“A memorable week of competitive golf, camaraderie and some outstanding performances.”

Looking ahead, the 2027 Cyril Gray tournament will take place from 22 to 25 June 2027. If you’re interested in getting involved with the OT Golf Society, whatever your age or playing ability, please contact the Old Tridents Golf Society, via the Trent College Alumni Office.

Cyril Gray 2026, OTGS Team:
John Bailey, class of 1991
Stuart Carlisle, class of 1982
Jon Carter, class of 1988
Peter Kilford, class of 1984
Tim Knowles, class of 1997
Brendan O’Neil, class of 1994
Colin MacDougall, class of 1977

L to R. Colin MacDougal, John Bailey, Tim Knowles, Stuart Carlisle, Brendan O’Neil and Jon Carter

Tournament information:
The 2026 Cyril Gray Golf Tournament was held 24-26 June at Worplesdon Golf Club, featuring senior scratch foursomes matches, for players aged over 50. 

Dates and Schedule:
Practice Day: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Tournament Days: Wednesday 24 June to Friday 26 June 2026
Senior Cyril Gray Match: Morning of Friday 26 June 2026
Daily Match Times: Events generally run from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Written by: Jon Carter
Edited: Jo Slater