The 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes is underway at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England, where one of golf’s most unique and historic team championships has returned for another year of alternate-shot match play.

The four-day event features 128 teams competing in a knockout bracket across Sunningdale’s famed heathland courses. The opening rounds are played across both the Old and New Courses before the field narrows and play shifts entirely to the Old Course for the latter stages.

Now well into the competition, several teams have already advanced through the opening matches as the bracket begins to take shape.

Opening round results shape the bracket

The Round of 128 featured a mix of professionals, elite amateurs, and high-profile sporting names competing in the event’s distinctive alternate-shot format.

Several decisive matches highlighted the opening round. Among them, Harry Crockett and Palmer Hestley delivered a convincing 5&4 victory to move into the next stage of the bracket. Harley Smith and Thalia Kirby also advanced comfortably with a 4&2 win.

Elsewhere, the team of Mia Ingham and Tom Reid progressed with a narrow 1-up victory, while Lucas Martin and Charlie Daughtrey secured a 3&2 win to move forward in the upper half of the draw.

One of the most notable matches of the opening round saw Eddie Pepperell and tennis legend Sir Andy Murray fall to Francois Illouz and Thomas Gottstein, who advanced with a commanding 6&5 result.

Another high-profile pairing featuring LPGA star Charley Hull and Ryan Evans was also eliminated in the first round, losing 3&2 to Louis Cohen Boyer and Hugo Rouillon.

Lower bracket produces early surprises

The lower half of the bracket also produced several strong performances and early eliminations.

Antony Plummer and Samuel Potter advanced with a 3&2 win to reach the next stage of the competition, while Taylor Carter and Simon Khan moved on with a 5&4 victory.

Another convincing result came from Matt Ford and Finbar Kane, who advanced with a 3&2 win in their opening match.

The alternate-shot format, which requires teammates to play one ball while alternating shots, often produces unpredictable results and dramatic swings in momentum. That volatility was evident throughout the opening matches as experienced professionals and amateur pairings battled across Sunningdale’s demanding heathland terrain.

Key matchups emerging in the next round

With the first round complete, the Round of 64 matchups are now set and the competition is tightening.

Among the notable matches moving forward:

• Lucas Martin & Charlie Daughtrey vs. Mia Ingham & Tom Reid
• Harley Smith & Thalia Kirby vs. Harry Crockett & Palmer Hestley
• Jon Hopkins & Haley Yerxa vs. Matt Ford & Finbar Kane
• Alex Boyes & Huey Cunningham vs. Emily Slater & Andrew George

These matches will determine which teams continue toward the final rounds on the Old Course later in the week.

A unique format in world golf

The Sunningdale Foursomes remains one of the few elite tournaments where professionals and amateurs compete alongside each other in mixed pairings.

Teams may consist of any combination of male or female players, and each competitor receives a standard handicap adjustment depending on their status. All players compete from the same tees to the same par, maintaining the championship’s reputation for both tradition and inclusivity.

First played in 1934, the Sunningdale Foursomes has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious early-season competitions in the United Kingdom, drawing leading amateurs, touring professionals, and notable sporting personalities.

With the bracket now beginning to narrow, the 92nd edition is shaping up for another compelling finish as the remaining teams continue their march toward the title at one of golf’s most storied clubs.