South Carolina PGA edges SCGA amateurs at Palmetto Cup
SCGA Amateur team
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Nov. 10, 2014) — For the first time since 2003, the South Carolina PGA Chapter has captured the Palmetto Cup Matches with a narrow 27.5 point to 26.5 point victory.
The 33rd Annual Palmetto Cup Matches were held Sunday and Monday, November 9th & 10th at Spring Valley Country Club in Columbia, SC. Captained by Doug Smith of Spartanburg, the top Amateurs from the South Carolina Golf Association competed against the top South Carolina PGA Chapter professionals, captained by Tom Cornforth, Head Golf Professional and owner of Paw Paw Golf Club in Bamberg, SC. On Sunday, the two man teams from each association competed in a Four Ball match play competition, and on Monday, the competition featured a Captains Choice format. Three points were available in each match – one point for winning the front nine, one point for winning the back nine and one point for winning the overall match.
On Sunday, the South Carolina PGA Chapter jumped out to a two point lead, picking up 14.5 of the 27 points available in the four ball format. After a slow start, winning only one point in the first three matches, the Pro’s dominated, taking a total of 13.5 points in the last six matches. During Monday’s Captains Choice matches, the SCGA mounted a comeback, winning the day at 14 points to 13, but was unable to overcome the deficit from Sunday’s play.
The final tally had the SCPGA winning the Palmetto Cup for the first time in eleven years. Overall, the SCGA has 17 wins, the SCPGA has 15 wins, and there has been 1 tie in past Palmetto Cup Matches. One match was cancelled due to weather in 1997.
View results for Palmetto Cup Matches
ABOUT THE
Palmetto Cup Matches
The Palmetto Cup Matches, the annual grudge match
between South Carolina’s best amateurs and club
professionals, has become one of the top team
competitions of the year.
The Palmetto Cup matches feature 14 regular South
Carolina Golf Association amateurs and four senior
amateurs, competing against the top 18 South
Carolina Professional Golf Association pros, four of
those being senior players as well. The amateurs,
along with the pros, are selected by points earned in
each association’s major events throughout the year.
The matches have two forms of competition involved
in the two-day event. The first day, matches features
a Four Ball format while the second day is being
played as Captain's Choice matches. The scoring
system allows for three points a match for a total of
54 points available.
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