The Australian partnership of Alex Cleave and John Hopkins won the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ annual Calcutta Cup Foursomes competition on Saturday.

In the 18-hole final over the New Course, they scored a decisive 4 and 3 success against the London-based pairing of Gordon Thorburn (Royal Wimbledon) and John Youngman (The Berkshire).

Conditions proved difficult, with the finalists having to contend with a strong and gusting wind.

However, barrister Hopkins and his retired partner, Cleave—they are both members of the Lake Karrinyup Golf and Country Club—adapted best and were never behind.

They were two ahead at the turn and went on to consolidate their advantage to close out their opponents on the 15th green.

Thorburn and Youngman won the Royal Dornoch Bowl as runners-up in the competition.

In the final of Royal Sydney Plate—also played over the New Course and for those players eliminated in the first round of the Calcutta Cup—Charles Harrison and Dai Rowley-Jones defeated David Taig and Sinclair Aitken by 2 and 1.

Results: Calcutta Cup, final—J. A. Cleave (4) and J. D. Hopkins (10) beat I. G. Thorburn (10) and D. J. Youngman (8) 4 and 3.

Royal Sydney Plate, final—C. P. Harrison (6) and Dr D. Rowley-Jones (6) beat Dr D. R. Taig (14) and S. Aitken (16) 2 and 1.

Meanwhile, the club’s second competition of the three-week autumn meeting starts today over the Old and Jubilee courses.

The handicap singles knockout competition, the Queen Victoria Jubilee Vase, was first played in 1887.

This year’s event has attracted an entry of more than 230 members of the club and will require play on both courses to accommodate the first round matches.

From the second round onwards the competition will be played only on the Old Course.

Defending the title he won last year is East Neuk member Richard Philip, a Fife hotelier.