DUBLIN, IRELAND - The Iona Men's Golf program renewed its rivalry with University College Dublin (UCD) this past week, traveling to Dublin, Ireland, for three days of spirited competition in the annual Iona–UCD Challenge Cup Match. The Gaels emerged victorious with a 10.5–5.5 win in the match play event.

Day 1 – Portmarnock Golf Club

Competition opened at the historic Portmarnock Golf Club, which has hosted 19 Irish Opens, the Walker Cup, and two British Amateur Championships. Iona got off to a strong start with best ball victories from the pairings of Sahir Balyan & Zach Baldwin, Connor Henderson & Jennings Oelke, and Ryan Slevcove & Lucas Vanderlip, giving the Gaels a 3–1 lead after Day 1.

Day 2 – County Louth Golf Club (Baltray)

Day 2 took place at County Louth Golf Club, returning to the rotation for the first time since 2019. The course, famously the site of UCD alum Shane Lowry's stunning Irish Open win as an amateur in 2009, was praised by all participants. The Gaels again secured a 3–1 advantage with wins from Balyan & Baldwin, Oelke & Slevcove, and Freddie Tucker & Shang Yu-Lin.

Day 3 – Royal Dublin Golf Club

The final day featured eight singles matches at the Royal Dublin Golf Club, a classic out-and-back links course and traditional host of the event. The Gaels clinched the Cup with singles victories from Balyan, Oelke, and Slevcove, along with halved matches from Sean Richards, Baldwin, and Vanderlip. Every Gael contributed to the team's scoring, with undefeated performances by Balyan, Oelke, Slevcove, Baldwin, Vanderlip, and Lin leading the way. Iona sealed the Challenge Cup with a final score of 10.5–5.5.

"This event is truly special, and we look forward to it every year. A huge thanks to the alumni and supporters who make this possible, especially Mr. Hynes and Matt Glovaski. We don't take for granted how fortunate we are to play in such an incredible event on world-class golf courses in both Dublin and New York. And of course, it's always special to bring the Cup back to New Ro." Said Senior Captain Zach Baldwin

"I cannot overstate how incredible this event is. The camaraderie between teams, the alumni connections, and the elite venues make this a highlight every year. Few events have this kind of longevity—now over 20 years—thanks to tremendous support from Iona leadership, especially President Carey and Athletic Director Matt Glovaski, as well as key alumni like Mr. Hynes. We are very fortunate to have this on our annual schedule." from head coach Sean Burke

The Iona–UCD Challenge Cup began in 2003, and this year marked the 21st edition. The Gaels have now won or retained the Cup in six of the last seven meetings. UCD still leads the overall series with 13 wins or retains to Iona's 8. The next edition of the Challenge Cup is scheduled to take place in New York in September 2026, when UCD will travel stateside to continue this longstanding tradition.