NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. – South Florida PGA professionals won seven of the last eight singles matches Wednesday, including the final five, enroute to a record-breaking victory in the 32nd annual Challenge Cup matches.The 18-6 margin over the North Florida PGA at the Lost Tree Club topped the previous record by one-half point, a 17 ½ to 6 ½ win by the SFPGA in 2004 at Olde Florida in Naples.
“Our guys played hard for two days,” said SFPGA non-playing captain John Nelson of Margate. “The North Florida guys played well but our team did better.” Overall, the SFPGA now leads by 21-9 with two halved matches.
Up10-2 after Tuesday’s team matches, including a rare 6-0 sweep in the afternoon foursomes, the SFPGA received a scare early Wednesday as the NFPGA won three and halved one to pull within five points at 10 ½ to 5 ½.
“I was really starting to worry,” Nelson said later, “But then Richard Terga won his match and our guys rolled from there.” Dennis Meyer of Estero scored the clinching point for SFPGA, beating Tom Strecker of St. Augustine 6 and 5 for a 12 ½ to 5 ½ lead.
“I didn’t know that,” Meyer said later. “That’s pretty neat.” A senior who operates a golf academy, Meyer qualified to play in the open division. “I loved that, too,” he added.
Each side was comprised of 12 players including two seniors 50 years and older. Generally, players were selected from points lists based on season-long playing achievements. Jack Binswanger of Sarasota was the NFPGA captain.
Florida Challenge Cup
Lost Tree Club, North Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 16-17, 2012
6,909 yards, par 72
Wednesday’s results:
Singles
Seniors
Matt Mitchell, Dunedin (NF), d. Pete Oakley, Palm City, 4 and 3.
Lee Rinker, West Palm Beach (SF) and Jim Slattery, Clearwater, all square.
Open Division
Rod Perry, Port Orange (NF), d. Gene Fieger, Naples, 3 and 2.
Mark Rummings, Bradenton (NF), d. Chad Kurmel, Boca Raton, 6 and 5.
Richard Terga, Palm Beach Gardens (SF), d. Daren Johnson, Tampa, 3 and 1.
Dennis Meyer, Estero (SF), d. Tom Stecker, St. Augustine, 6 and 5.
Jay Westerlund, Fort Myers (SF) and Kyaw Htet, Palm Harbor, all square.
Jason Hrynkiw, Delray Beach (SF), d. Shawn Gordon, Tampa, 3 and 2.
Dan Heaslip, Naples (SF), d. Travis Daniels, Dunnellon, 3 and 2.
Chris Kaufman, Palm Beach Gardens (SF), d. Clint Avret, Jacksonville, 2-up.
Paul Scaletta, Jupiter (SF), d. Sean Gorgone, Longwood, 6 and 5.
Alan Morin, Lake Worth (SF), d. Cary Splane, St. Augustine, 2 and 1.
Tuesday’s results:
Morning, four-ball match play
Slattery-Mitchell (NF), d. Rinker-Oakley, 1-up.
Westerlund-Terga (SF) and Perry-Rummings, all square.
Kaufman-Hrynkiw (SF), d. Avret-Splane, 4 and 3.
Meyer-Heaslip (SF) and Stecker-Johnson, all square.
Fieger-Scaletta (SF), d. Gordon-Htet, 2 and 1,
Morin-Kurmel (SF), d. Daniels-Gorgone, 4 and 3.
Afternoon, foursomes
Rinker-Oakley (SF), d. Slattery-Mitchell, 5 and 4.
Kaufman-Hrynkiw (SF), d. Avret-Splane, 5 and 4.
Meyer-Heaslip (SF), d. Perry-Rummings, 2 and 1.
Westerlund-Terga (SF), d. Stecker-Johnson, 4 and 3.
Fieger-Scaletta (SF), d. Gordon-Htet, 2 and 1.
Morin-Kurmel (SF), d. Daniels-Gorgone, 2-up.
Final score: SFPGA 18, NFPGA 6
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