South Florida Defeats North Florida at 41st Annual Challenge Cup Matches
The South Florida PGA defeated North Florida PGA, breaking a two-year drought, by a score of 17.5 to 6.5 at the 41st Annual Challenge Cup Matches.
Hosted by the North Florida PGA at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, the matches include a first-round four-ball match play, a second-round foursome match play and a third-round singles match play.
South Florida led the matches 4-2 after the first round and further extended their lead to 9-3 following the conclusion of round two.
This year’s South Florida PGA Professional Champion, Taylor Collins, PGA, was one of several players to make a first-time Challenge Cup appearance this week. “It’s been an awesome experience,” said Collins. “I haven’t played a lot of team events but I love my partner [Kenny Leech, PGA] so that kept it easy and fun out there.”
In addition to Collins and Leech, Austin Davenport, PGA also made his Challenge Cup debut and grew up playing on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. These three individuals now work in the Section, Collins at Coral Ridge Country Club, Leech at the Don Law Golf Academy and Davenport at The Dye Preserve Golf Club.
In addition, this year's team was led by Jerry Tucker, PGA and Roger Kennedy Sr., PGA and represented by Tyler Collet, PGA (John’s Island Club), Collins, Davenport, Andrew Filbert, PGA (West Bay Club), Leech, Justin McCarraher, PGA (Fiddlesticks Country Club), Brett Melton, PGA (Melton Golf Academy), Mike Midgette, PGA (Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club), Mark Mielke, PGA (High Ridge Country Club), Alan Morin, PGA (The Club at Ibis), Jack Shoenfelt, PGA (Oriole Golf Club) and Justin Smith, PGA (Bonita Bay Club).
The Challenge Cup Matches are an invitation-only event. Invitations are based on ROLEX Player of the Year Points Standings where the top 10 juniors and two seniors from each Section are invited to compete.
A big thank you to Director of Golf Ryan Gray, PGA and Golden Ocala for hosting this year’s event and to event sponsor FootJoy for outfitting the teams.
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