2005 GSGA-GPGA Challenge Cup

Georgia Amateurs Capture Second Straight Challenge Cup

Woodstock, Ga. - The Georgia State Golf Association Amateurs won 10 of 16 singles matches to claim victory over the Georgia PGA professionals at the biennial Georgia Challenge Cup, which was being held at Capital City Club - Crabapple Course, October 16-17. The team of the state's top 16 amateurs started the second day of competition with a 4 1/2 - 3 1/2 point advantage and won their second-straight title 15 - 9. The winners retain possession of the Billy Peters Trophy until the next Challenge Match in 2007.

The amateurs and professionals kept things close during the first four matches of the day. Marrietta's Jeff Belk, playing for the GSGA, defeated the GPGA's Tommy Brannen 5 and 4 while Augusta's Jeff Knox won his match against Jeff Amershadian, 2 and 1. Chris Hall and Jack Hall each fell in their matches, however, to Chan Reeves and John Hough.

Reigning Georgia Public Links champion Dave Womack of McDonough led an early afternoon charge though when he defeated professional Randy Brooks by a total of 1 up. Brooks was a late addition to the GPGA team. Womack, the youngest player for the amateurs at age 26, captured his match with a birdie at number 18.

"It has been really great playing with this group of guys," Womack said. "I'm a rookie out here and I really look up to all of these players. They all know how to go out and win. It's been a lot of fun."

Savannah's Doug Hanzel, the 2004 Georgia Mid-Amateur Champion, and Dick Van Leuvan of Roswell followed Womack into the clubhouse each winning their matches. Hanzel defeated Gregg Wolff 3 and 2 and Van Leuvan won 2 and 1 over Ted Meier. Bill Leonard also went on to win his match 2 and 1 against Eddy Young and secured a point for the GSGA. The match between Don Marsh and Wendell Coffee finished in a tie and each player tallied a half point for their team.

With the GSGA needing just a point and a half more to secure the victory, all eyes turned to the final five matches of the day. The GSGA Amateurs went on to win four of the final five matches and run away with the competition. Cumming's Matt Robbins (1 up), Mark Strickland of Woodstock (2 and 1), Greg Kennedy of Cumming (4 and 3) and Dalton's David Noll, Jr. (2 up) each tallied a full point by winning their matches for the GSGA.

Noll, who approached the 16th tee all square with 2005 Georgia PGA Champion Tim Weinhart, won the 17th and 18th holes to solidify the GSGA's win.

"I think that what we have been able to do over the past couple of years is prove that Georgia has some of the best amateur players around," Noll explained. "It has been really great playing with these guys over the past couple of days."

Other professionals that were able to score points for the GPGA team were Blue Ridge Golf and River Club's Clark Spratlin who defeated the 2005 Georgia Mid-Amateur Champion Jefferson Murray, 5 and 4, Bill Johnstone topped Bob Young, 3 and 2, and Craig Stevens won over Savannah's Danny Nelson by a score of 2 and 1.

The GSGA squad won three of the eight matches and halved three more during the opening round's four-ball matches to build their 4 1/2 - 3 1/2 lead after the first day of play. The Challenge Cup, which began in 1962, was switched to a biennial competition in 1987. The Georgia PGA holds a 19 1/2 to 14 1/2 edge in the all-time competition. In 1997, the Challenge Cup trophy was re-named in honor of Billy Peters, past president of the GSGA and tireless volunteer official for both organizations.

Final Results
Total Points: GSGA 15, GPGA 9

Day Two Results: GSGA 10 1/2, GPGA 5 1/2
Chan Reeves (GPGA) def. Chris Hall (GSGA), 3 and 1
Jeff Belk (GSGA) def. Tommy Brannen (GPGA), 5 and 4
Jeff Knox (GSGA) def. Jeff Amershadian (GPGA), 2 and 1
John Hough (GPGA) def. Jack Hall (GSGA), 2 and 1
Dave Womack (GSGA) def. Randy Brooks (GPGA), 1 up
Doug Hanzel (GSGA) def. Gregg Wolff (GPGA), 3 and 2
Dick Van Leuvan (GSGA) def. Ted Meier (GPGA), 2 and 1
Bill Johnstone (GPGA) def. Bob Young (GSGA), 3 and 2
Bill Leonard (GSGA) def. Eddy Young (GPGA), 2 and 1
Don Marsh (GSGA) halved with Wendell Coffee (GPGA)
Clark Spratlin (GPGA) def. Jefferson Murray (GSGA), 5 and 4
Matt Robbins (GSGA) def. Greg Lee (GPGA), 1 up
Craig Stevens (GPGA) def. Danny Nelson (GSGA), 2 and 1
Mark Strickland (GSGA) def. Bill McDonald (GPGA), 2 and 1
Greg Kennedy (GSGA) def. Stephen Keppler (GPGA), 4 and 3
David Noll, Jr. (GSGA) def. Tim Weinhart (GPGA), 2 up

Day One Results: GSGA 4 1/2, GPGA 3 1/2
David Noll, Jr./Chris Hall (GSGA) def. Greg Lee/Craig Stevens (GPGA), 6 and 5
Bill McDonald/Chan Reeves (GPGA) def. Jack Hall/Danny Nelson (GSGA), 2 and 1
Jefferson Murray/Doug Hanzel (GSGA) halved with Tommy Brannen/Gregg Wolff (GPGA)
Bill Johnstone/Ted Meier (GPGA) def. Bob Young/Dick Van Leuvan (GSGA), 3 and 2
Don Marsh/Bill Leonard (GSGA) halved with Wendell Coffee/Eddy Young (GPGA)
Dave Womack/Matt Robbins (GSGA) def. John Hough/Randy Brooks (GPGA), 3 and 1
Jeff Belk/Mark Strickland (GSGA) def. Jeff Amershadian/Stephen Keppler (GPGA), 2 up
Jeff Knox/Greg Kennedy (GSGA) halved with Tim Weinhart/Clark Spratlin (GPGA)