The Geneva Golf team overcame stiff resistance by the Vienna players on the second day to become the first winners of the United Nations Ryder Cup competition.

The competition was held over two days on 16 May at the Maison Blanche Golf and Country Club and on 17 May at the Divonne Golf Club.

The two teams comprising 12 players each ( see line-up below) were tied at six-all after the hard-fought singles matches of the first day.

It took a late charge by the Geneva players to capture the second day's doubles, with all the matches being decided on the 17th green in favour of Geneva. The final result of Geneva 18-Vienna 6 certainly does reflect the closeness of the competition, as the two teams were neck and neck with only four holes to go.

Plans for the event, fashioned after the famous US-Europe Ryder Cup, have been on the drawing board for three years. The Geneva team was made up of players from eight agencies who are also members of the International Golf Club.

A tradition has now been firmly established and the competition is to become an annual event. The Vienna team has already started work on hosting the tournament next year, with tentative dates set for September 2004.

The Teams:

Vienna: Marc Harris, Captain (IAEA), Reinfred Schneider (UNIDO), Sandeep Chawla (UNODC), Derek McLachlan (IAEA), Alain Cardoso (IAEA), Gary Eidet (IAEA), Ken-Lock Yeoh (UNIDO), John Bunney (IAEA), Jody Hopponen (IAEA), Suzette Franc (IAEA), Irene Huber (IAEA), and Mario Piana (IAEA).

Geneva: Bob Wulf (ILO), Pierre de Ruvo (ICE), Alfredo Spamer (WIPO), Sarah Sticbury (ILO), Andres Manjon (UNEP), Terry Slater (WHO/ILO), Fabrice Monet (UNOG), Nicolas Clement (WIPO), Behrouz Shahandeh, Captain (ILO), Diego Oyarzun (UNCTAD), Francois Musy (ICRC), and Giuseppe di Capua (UNCTAD)

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