Mid-Am showdown tips Florida Cup in North Florida's favor
The winning North Florida team (FSGA photo)
PALM COAST, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2018) – North Florida won its first Florida Cup since 2011 after capturing seven singles matches on Friday at Hammock Dunes Club. The North team defeated the South team, 16.5-15.5, to win its sixth Florida Cup title, evening the overall record at 6-6. Reigning Florida Mid-Amateur champion
Marc Dull secured the victory for the North, defeating newly crowned Mid-Amateur Stroke Play champion Scott Turner, 2 and 1, in the final match of the day.
Heading into Friday’s singles matches, the North team held a 9-7 lead over the South. The South team came out strong, winning the first four matches of the day. Jerry Rose put the first point on the board for the South by defeating Richard Kerper, 3 and 2. Rose, who qualified for the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, won four straight holes on the back nine to secure the victory. Ben Adelberg, Joe Shaktman and Rokki Rogan also won their matches to give South Florida an 11-9 lead early in the day.
After losing to Bill Barnes in a playoff at the 2018 Senior Amateur, Don Whittemore won five holes on the back nine to defeat Barnes, 2 and 1. Whitemore was one of four players for the North Team to go undefeated in the tournament (Dull, Steve Carter and Brian Keenan).
Daniel Eggertsson tied the match at 15.5-15.5 for South Florida, defeating Cameron Knight, 1 up. The match was all square heading into the back nine, Eggertsson then went on to win three straight holes to take the lead.
The Florida Cup was ultimately decided by the final match of the day between Dull and Turner. Turner took a quick lead winning the sixth hole to go 2 up. Dull brought the match back to all square with birdies on the seventh and eighth holes. Dull birdied 13 and pared 16 to win the match and the Florida Cup for the North.
ABOUT THE
Florida Cup
Held every two years, the Florida Cup
Matches vie 16 of the top amateurs from
North Florida versus 16 of the top
amateurs from South Florida. Using a
Ryder-Cup format, the winner is
determined by the number of points
earned throughout the two days. Players
are invited based on their performance
from the previous two seasons. Some
automatic selections are based on the
FSGA two-year point's standings.
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