The South Team hoisted the Florida Cup Friday, taking a 6-5 lead in the series and winning their third consecutive Florida Cup.
The 11th Florida Cup matches headed to Coral Creek Club, in Placida, October 20-21, 2016. The bi-annual cup matches pit the top amateurs from North & South Florida in a three-round cup format, playing foursomes (alternate-shot),four-ball (best-ball) and singles match play, modeled after the Ryder Cup. 12 Amateurs (age 21 & over) and 4 Seniors (age 55 & over) make up each side. Players are invited based on their performance from the previous two seasons.
The Club
Coral Creek Club features a world class Tom Fazio designed golf course. Mr. Fazio has designed Coral Creek in a core configuration with the limited residences on the perimeter of the golf course. Bordered by picturesque Coral Creek, a salt-water estuary flowing to the Gulf of Mexico and a 6,000-acre nature preserve, Coral Creek Club provides for a very special, private golf experience.
The impeccably maintained, 211-acre golf course rolls gently through southern pines, oaks and palms around deep blue lakes and picturesque, high flashing bunkers that guard emerald greens. Coral Creek Club offers water views over the mangroves on several golf holes, views that make the golf experience at Coral Creek unique among the best golf courses in Florida.Captivating landscape and inspiring wildlife surround members and their guests at Coral Creek Club. Reflecting the natural beauty of the environment, the masterful Tom Fazio design creates a harmonious transition from Mother Nature to golf course.
Over the course of the week the teams were welcomed by the club and treated to a first class event by club owner Michael Zmetrovich and his staff. Golf Course Superintendent Jackson Reisweg and his crew had the golf course in fantastic condition with firm and fast greens that received compliments from every player in the field. Players enjoyed breakfast each day at the club, as well as a between round lunch between round 1 & 2, followed by a festive pairings party that evening.
Thursday Morning - Four-Ball Matches
The morning belonged to the North Team. Captain Thad Hudgens had his team fired up after losing the last two Florida Cups. The team went out on first. In the lead match the duo of Paul Royak & Brian Keenan, set the tone taking match 1. The pair fell two down through 3, but brought the match back to all square after 8. On the backside, the pair would birdie 12-14 and 16 & 17 to close Team Ben (Finley & Adelberg) out 3&1. Following the lead of the first match, the North would post three more wins, coupled with three halves to take a commanding 5 1/2 - 2 1/2 lead.
Thursday Afternoon - Foursomes Matches
The South Team, defending Champions, started round two, foursome matches, with a vengeance. Looking to hoist the trophy for a third straight victory, the South Team won six matches and halved one match to earn 6.5 points Thursday afternoon. David Anthony won his second match 5&4, for the only North Team point, with partner Paul Royak. The only halved match of round two came from Ben Adelberg/Daniel Eggertsson (South) and Bob Campione/Davis Miller (North), giving the North Team 1.5 points. Heading into the final singles matches, the South Team held the lead with 9 total points over 7 total points for the North Team.
Friday Morning - Singles Matches
Entering Friday morning leading 9-7, the South would need to post just 7 points to retain the cup and 7 1/2 for the outright victory. The four Senior matches would start the South Team off rolling. The South trio of Rick Woulfe, Senior Player of the Year Peter Wegmann, and Owen Joyner would knock their North Opponent off 4 & 3, posting a quick three points on the board for the South. Marc France in the lead Amateur match would take down Paul Royak, 4&3. Match 2 saw Daniel Eggertsson fight back from being three-down at the turn to post a 1-up victory. While in Match 3, Richard Donegan quickly deposited Michael Smith, 6&4 after playing 14 holes 6 under par. During all this, in the final Senior match on the course, Kevin Macy of the North would fight Jerry Rose long and hard in a rematch of the Senior Match Play semifinal, but not have enough as Rose would win 1 up. This 1 up victory put the 7th point on the board, guaranteeing the South would retain the cup.
Shortly later, as the North posted points in the other matches: Thad Hudgens 2&1 over Stephen Anderson, Bob Levy by default over Jose Novo, Davis Miller 7&6 over Ben Adelberg, Matthew Giovannelli 2&1 over R J Nakashian & Jamie Girardi; the score sat at 16-13, players gathered around the final green watching the Ben Finley / Alan Pope match. Finley would head into the last hole 1-up. When Finley failed to get up and down after missing the green, the match was halved, giving the South the final half point they needed to clinch the outright victory.
In the final matches on the course, Brigham Gibbs would trail, but fight back to halve Bob Campione, as would South Team teammate Jim Weick in a match with Chad Ibbotson. Marc Dull of the North would defeat Chris Carlin 2&1 leaving a final result of 17 1/2 to 14 1/2.
The North Team included: David Anthony, of Jacksonville, Bob Campione, of Palm Coast, Marc Dull, of Winter Haven, Matt Giovannelli, of Ocala, Jamie Girardi, of New Port Richey, Thad Hudgens, of Longwood, Chad Ibbotson, of Sanford, Brian Keenan, of Tampa, Doug LaCrosse, of Tampa, Bob Levy, of Windermere, Kevin Macy, of Tampa, Davis Miller, of Tampa, Alan Pope, of Orlando, Paul Royak, of Tampa, Michael Smith, of Ponte Vedra Beach, and Doug Snoap, of Apopka. North Team Bio's
The South Team included: Ben Adelberg, of Boynton Beach, Stephen Anderson, of Hobe Sound, Chris Carlin, of Plantation, Richard Donegan, of Okeechobee, Daniel Eggertsson, of Royal Palm Beach, Ben Finley, of Plantation, Marc France, of Plantation, Brigham Gibbs, of Miami, Owen Joyner, of Bonita Springs, Matthew Marino, of Miami Beach, R J Nakashian, of Palm Beach Gardens, Jose Novo, of Miami, Jerry Rose, of Sarasota, Peter Wegmann, of Fort Lauderdale, Jim Weick, of Fort Lauderdale, and Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale. South Team Bio's
Championship Format
Wednesday, October 19th
