DISABLED golfers from across Britain descended upon The MacDonald Cardrona Golf Resort to compete over three days in a Ryder Cup style event for golfers with a disability called GB Phoenix Cup.

The three-day match play competition was eventually won by Team England by 8 points to 7.

The Phoenix Cup was set up last year by Jim Gales, of the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership (SDGP), and Kevin Booth, National Co-ordinator of British Inclusive Golf (BIG), to encourage disabled golfers to play in a team event.

Although the Phoenix Cup is friendly competition it does deliver a very strong competitive desire from both sides. The inaugural event in 2014 saw 20 disabled golfers from across Scotland, England and Wales gather at the prestigious Roxburghe Golf Course in the Scottish Borders.

This year the event again saw a squad of 10 disabled golfers from the SDGP take on BIG in match play team events including foursomes and fourball competitions. Kevin Booth said: “This was a great opportunity to promote pan-disability golf across the whole country and I was so excited about having this chance to compete against SDGP again with what was a very strong group of disabled golfers.

“We had representatives from all disabled groups on our squad, with players having varying sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities, coming together to enjoy what was a great few days of golf and we are delighted with our victory.” The event is going from strength to strength and will become a regular feature in the golfing calendar.

Alan Robertson, the SDGP captain for the 2015 GB Phoenix Cup said: “The MacDonald Cardrona Resort were excellent hosts for this event and we really enjoyed their hospitality.

“It was a great few days of golf and although we are disappointed with the result. It was a great advert for disability golf and proves to everyone that having any kind of disability is never a barrier to playing sport.” A number of new sponsors came on board and provided excellent support - The Health Rooms, Peebles; Dewar Brothers Packaging and several Scottish and English based Trusts and Foundations.  The Health Rooms, Peebles which provided Team Scotland with polo shirts for the event and physio cover are a local business with a keen interest.

Steve Wrigley, of The Health Rooms, said: ”The Health Rooms were delighted to support SDGP Team Scotland this year at Cardrona, as a physio it is great to see so many people who have had life-changing injuries compete in sport at such a high level.” The match was swinging Scotland’s way after the first two and they had a 6-4 lead going into the final day. BIG came out fast and dominated to take the final day fourballs 4-1 and secure the trophy for the second year.

If you are interested in supporting Disability Golf or the work the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership go to www.sdgp.org.uk