Sunningdale Foursomes, words by Hugo Cornell – Cookie Jar Golf

Robert Rock & Sam Walker 8:40 (Old) Robert is a former European tour winner and still possesses arguably the most desirable action in British golf. He will be one of the best ball strikers out there. One could imagine that the practice areas at Little Aston will have seen some action as Rock oils his engine ahead of this event, though I doubt he would beat his GM Iain Burns in a putting comp at LA. There is every chance that sartorially he will get the biggest wins of the week, be that with a single strap bag, flat cap, tour visor or just some drippy layering. He sat down with Sam and Tom in Cookie Jar Pod episodes: 286 & 287 for a wide-ranging chat, both parts worth revisiting.

Eddie Pepperell & Sir Andy Murray 9:04 (Old) Probably the most optically interesting pairing of the week, a real one for the casual fan. Eddie is a podcaster, wino, dog dad and professional golfer. He has experience dissecting heathland layouts after his 2018 British Masters win at Walton Heath. He’s found a good bit of form of late, confidence back in his driver, which is brilliant for foursomes. Andy Murray is playing off a 0.7 index at his home club of Beaverbrook, we know what a gritty and skilled player he was during his tennis career, it will be interesting to see how that’s transitioned into his golf game. Should be a nice crowd and buzz as they dart about the Old Course layout.

Charley Hull 9:28 (Old) with Ryan Evans. Charley is an LPGA and Solheim Cup star and former elite ‘darter’ (now a nicotine chewer). She is back in the event, this time without her good friend Georgia Hall, partnering fellow professional and Kettering native Ryan Evans. Ryan won The Berkshire Trophy as an amateur in 2013, and his one Challenge Tour win came in 2017 at the Turkish Airlines Challenge. Charley’s pace of play is perfect for foursomes and her aggressive style of attacking the course will all but assure that their partnership will be one of fireworks and birdies.

James Ruth & Paul Hendriksen 10:00 (Old). Devon’s favourite sons and part-time ‘course vlogging bodies’ for Dan Hendriksen, both James and Paul are highly respected and skilled players. They reached the final of the Foursomes in 2022, losing to Lottie Woad and her partner. Paul has won two British PGA Championships, an English PGA Championship and was part of the victorious 2015 PGA Cup team. James also has an English PGA title to his name as well as PGA Order of Merit wins.

Hugh Foley 9:36 with Jake Hapwood (Old). Hugh is a professional Irish golfer playing on the Alps Tour. He had a glorious amateur career which featured wins at the North (2022), West (2021) and South (2022) of Ireland Championships. He won the Irish Amateur by 10 shots at Rosapenna in 2020. Hugh was also runner-up in the all-Ireland final at Erin Hills in the 2022 U.S Mid Am.

Roger Chapman & Ronan Rafferty 10:48 (Old). This is arguably the ultimate veteran pairing of the field. Two ex European tour players and ex Walker Cup teammates at Cypress Point in 1981. Roger has won the Sunningdale Foursomes before as an amateur back in 1979 with his partner George Will. Roger won the English Amateur that same year at Sandwich and went on to win 7 times as a professional. Ronan won the 1989 Order of Merit title on the European Tour and won 14 times professionally after his wins at the Brabazon Trophy and Boys Championship as an amateur set him up for success. Ronan is a fascinating chap and he sat down with the Jar in podcast episode: 063, definitely one to dust off or relisten to, some great stories are told.

Jarmo Sandelin & Lukas Sandelin 9:52 (New). This is an all-family affair with this father and son Swedish duo. Jarmo was a cult hero during his playing days on the European tour, wearing futuristic eyewear and linen trousers. He won 5 times while out on tour and made the 1999 Ryder Cup. Jarmo once executed my favourite matchplay moment against Phil Mickelson, which involved him pretending to be unable to find his ball marker, then asking the crowd, to which hundreds of coins started to be chucked onto the green before Mickelson could putt. His son Lukas has competed on the Nordic Golf Tour.

Ina Kim-Schaad & Meghan Stasi 10:08 (Old). Ina has won two U.S Women’s Mid Am titles, her last coming in 2025 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Meghan is back in familiar surroundings after captaining the U.S Curtis Cup team at Sunningdale in 2024, she also has four USGA Championships to her name and 17 state titles. They have experience as a partnership winning the Women’s International Fourball Championship on five separate occasions since 2019. Ina’s fashion choices and style could well be the only competition to Robert Rock.

Adan Yates & Jenson Bull 9:04 (New). Dorsetshire county duo, Parkstone members and great friends. Jenson won the South East of England Links Championship at Deal and Sandwich in 2025 with a total of four under par 282. Earlier in 2025 Jenson also won the prestigious Duncan Putter at Southerndown Golf Club by five shots and the Dorset County Championship as well. His partner Adan Yates is a formidable foursomes force having been to the final of the Grafton Morrish tournament with Millfield on three occasions, winning famously in 2021 over Malvern.

Rupert Kellock & Jody Fanagan 11:36 (New). Rupert is an extremely distinguished senior golfer and champion. He won back-to-back English Senior Amateur Championships in 2020 at Woodhall Spa and 2021 at Blackmoor. He’s played in the Senior divisions in the Porter Cup, Crump Cup, George C. Thomas Invitational and The Concession Cup. His partner Jody Fanagan is an absolute giant of Irish amateur golf and one of freak athletic talent. He plays out of Milltown and Portmarnock. Jody easily could have played rugby for Ireland. He took a point off Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup at Porthcawl, playing with his best mate Padraig Harrington. Jody is a South of Ireland Amateur Champion and an Irish Senior Amateur Champion. He lost in the final of the 2023 U.S Senior Amateur final against a full timer in Todd White. He currently is maintaining a plus 2 index all off competition cards to boot.

Daniel Torrance & Jonathan Rafferty 11:52 (New) Some exceptionally familiar surnames to some readers, yes this is a second-generation Ryder Cup pairing effectively. Dan and Johnny both attended school together at Bradfield and their father’s golfing talents were passed down to them. They’re a formidable foursomes pairing, having won the Halford Hewitt as part of the Bradfield side in 2025. They’re also both members of Sunningdale, with probably more laps around the course under their belts than the whole field combined. They have a brilliant scoring ability with short games that fear no angle or lie. They are affectionately known as the ‘Old Goutonians’ for being some of the most elite ‘lunchers’ in all of golf.

Tom Reid 8:16 (Old) with Mia Ingham. Tom is the co-owner of Sunningdale Heath and arguably one of the most highly respected PGA teaching professional since John Jacobs. He began his career at Wentworth growing their academy and junior section. The sheer array of yardages on offer at Sunningdale Heath and his short commute should translate into incredible approach play. His partner Mia is currently in the England Girls national set-up.

Jack Sallis 8:24 (Old) with Jacob Austin. Jack was the winner of the Lord Warden Cup at Rye in 2023 playing off plus 5 at the time. He finished in the top 10 at the Brabazon Trophy at his home club Hollinwell, all while running his company Halcyon Travel at the same time. Sallis’ moustache is gaining a cult following, slowly becoming as iconic as Charles Bronson and Merv Hughes, but burnt on by Guiness consumption. Jack can be heard in a delightful conversation with Sam in Cookie Jar Pod Episode: 237. Jacob is a multiple time club champion at Sunningdale as well as a Bridges Cup team member, an incredibly classy and assured operator.

Robert McGuirk 8:56 (Old) with Liam Brown. With some time between now and the 2030 Walker Cup at Princes it is fantastic to see friend of The Jar Rob McGuirk strapping in for some foursomes play. Rob was part of the same England squad as Donald and Rose before playing professionally on the Challenge Tour for several years as well as in a handful of European Tour events. Minus an old knee injury his game is confident and compact, with a swing that works as well and true as a Swiss perpetual movement.

Dr Darragh Garrahy 10:32 (Old) with Richard Knightly. Darragh is a longtime friend and contributor to Cookie Jar. He is the true fountain of knowledge when it comes to the amateur game, with his knowledge of equipment coming a close second, he was born to be called ‘a savant’. His bag for the tournament will consist of Padraig Harrington’s old driver, with a scaffold pole shaft and a gorgeous set of Miura Baby Blade irons, it is a ‘what’s in the bag?’ that would have all the online equipment forums weak at their knees. Richard has been a perennial contender in Irish Amateur championships for decades. He is known for a sweet languid swing and perfectly coiffured hair. If his putter behaves, this Irish version of Keith Mitchell is a match for anyone. Richard famously smashed in the window of his rental car with a 7 iron after locking his keys inside before he went onto win Laytown & Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup.