2008 Southeastern Challenge Match

Georgia Captures Fifth Straight Southeastern Challenge Match

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Georgia won 15 of its 24 matches in the final round to build upon its narrow lead and win its fifth-straight Southeastern Challenge Match at Kiva Dunes. The Peach State finished with 26 ½ total points to defeat host Alabama by five points, while Florida scored 15 in the 12th playing of the Match.

Georgia led Alabama by one point, 11-10, after the first day of competition, while Florida trailed by five. Six Georgia players – half of the team – went undefeated in Sunday's three-ball matches. Donald Crump of Atlanta, Greg Kennedy of Duluth, David Noll Jr. of Dalton, Bill Ploeger of Columbus, Adam Thomas of Baxley and Dave Womack of McDonough each won both of their matches versus their Alabama and Florida opponents to contribute two points apiece. Another Georgian, Chris Hall of Marietta, defeated his Florida opponent and finished All Square against Alabama to add 1 ½ points. Also winning one match apiece on Sunday were Josh Gregory of Augusta and Spencer Sappington of Milton.

Kennedy, playing in his record-tying sixth Southeastern Challenge Match, was the lone Georgian to finish with a perfect record during this year's event, contributing the maximum five points. Hall, one of three rookies on this year's Georgia squad, and Noll each tallied 4 ½ points with a 4-0-1 record.

With the win, Georgia takes the overall series lead with its sixth victory in this event (1990, 2000, '02, '04, '06, '08). It breaks a tie with Florida, which has five wins (1989, '94, '95, '96, '98). Alabama owns one Southeastern Challenge Match title (1991).

The biennial competition features 12-man teams (eight mid-amateurs, four seniors) from Georgia, Florida and Alabama competing over two days in a format similar to that of the Ryder Cup. Players were selected by their respective state associations based on recent performance. Day one consisted of four-ball and foursome matches (two against two, playing alternate shot). The format on the final day was three-ball match play. One point is awarded to the winning team for each match. The Southeastern Challenge Match began in 1989 and was held annually until 1997, except in 1992-1993 when no matches were held.

Final Results
Final Points – Georgia - 26 ½; Alabama 21 ½; Florida - 15

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Day Two Points –Georgia – 15 ½; Alabama 11 ½; Florida - 9
Sam Farlow (Ala.) vs. Rick Woulfe (Fla.) All Square
Donald Crump (Ga.) def. Rick Woulfe (Fla.) 5 and 4
Donald Crump (Ga.) def. Sam Farlow (Ala.) 2 and 1
Kim Schwencke (Fla.) def. Don Blanton (Ala.) 3 and 2
Kim Schwencke (Fla.) def. Don Marsh (Ga.) 3 and 2
Don Blanton (Ala.) def. Don Marsh (Ga.) 2 and 1
Jimmy Brandt (Ala.) def. Stephen Anderson (Fla.) 4 and 2
Chris Hall (Ga.) def. Stephen Anderson (Fla.) 4 and 2
Jimmy Brandt (Ala.) vs. Chris Hall (Ga.) All Square
Jon Veneziano (Fla.) def. Steve Hudson (Ala.) 5 and 3
David Noll (Ga.) def. Jon Veneziano (Fla.) 1 up
David Noll (Ga.) def. Steve Hudson (Ala.) 4 and 3
Will Swift (Ala.) def. Jeff Golden (Fla.) 2 and 1
Adam Thomas (Ga.) def. Jeff Golden (Fla.) 4 and 3
Adam Thomas (Ga.) def. Will Swift (Ala.) 3 and 2
Woodie Eubanks (Ala.) vs. Jeff Williams (Fla.) All Square
Dave Womack (Ga.) def. Jeff Williams (Fla.) 2 and 1
Dave Womack (Ga.) def. Woodie Eubanks (Ala.) 1 up
Bill Moor (Ala.) def. Bruce Scamehorn (Fla.) 3 and 1
Spencer Sappington (Ga.) def. Bruce Scamehorn (Fla.) 3 and 2
Bill Moor (Ala.) def. Spencer Sappington (Ga.) 2 and 1
Frank Vines (Ala.) vs. Ronnie Tumlin (Fla.) All Square
Bill Ploeger (Ga.) def. Ronnie Tumlin (Fla.) 3 and 2
Bill Ploeger (Ga.) def. Frank Vines (Ala.) 3 and 1
Garrett Morrison (Fla.) def. Bart Barnes (Ala.) 4 and 3
Garrett Morrison (Fla.) def. Josh Gregory (Ga.) 3 and 2
Josh Gregory (Ga.) def. Bart Barnes (Ala.) 2 and 1
Robert Nelson (Ala.) def. T.J. Shuart (Fla.) 4 and 2
T.J. Shuart (Fla.) def. Mark Strickland (Ga.) 3 and 2
Robert Nelson (Ala.) def. Mark Strickland (Ga.) 2 and 1
Vic Kyatt (Ala.) def. Doug Snoap (Fla.) 2 and 1
Greg Kennedy (Ga.) def. Doug Snoap (Fla.) 4 and 3
Greg Kennedy (Ga.) def. Vic Kyatt (Ala.) 1 up
Talbert Griffin (Ala.) vs. Kelly Gosse (Fla.) All Square
Kelly Gosse (Fla.) def. Jeff Belk (Ga.) 6 and 4
Talbert Griffin (Ala.) def. Jeff Belk (Ga.) 2 and 1

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
Day One Points: Georgia – 11; Alabama – 10; Florida – 6
Bruce Scamehorn/Rick Woulfe (Fla.) def. Frank Vines/Bill Moor (Ala.) 4 and 3
Sam Farlow/Don Blanton (Ala.) def. Don Marsh/Spencer Sappington (Ga.) 1 up
Kim Schwencke/Ronnie Tumlin (Fla.) def. Bill Ploeger/Donald Crump (Ga.) 1 up
Jimmy Brandt/Bart Barnes (Ala.) def. Stephen Anderson/Jon Veneziano (Fla.) 5 and 4
Will Swift/Steve Hudson (Ala.) def. Dave Womack/Adam Thomas (Ga.) 2 and 1
Mark Strickland/Greg Kennedy (Ga.) def. Garrett Morrison/T.J. Shuart (Fla.) 4 and 3
Talbert Griffin/Vic Kyatt (Ala.) def. Jeff Golden/Doug Snoap (Fla.) 4 and 3
Woodie Eubanks/Robert Nelson (Ala.) vs. David Noll/Josh Gregory (Ga.) All Square
Chris Hall/Jeff Belk (Ga.) def. Jeff Williams/Kelly Gosse (Fla.) 1 up
Round One Points: Alabama – 4 ½, Georgia – 2 ½; Florida – 2

 

Bruce Scamehorn/Rick Woulfe (Fla.) def. Frank Vines/Bill Moor (Ala.) 6 and 4
Bruce Scamehorn/Rick Woulfe (Fla.) def. Don Marsh/Spencer Sappington (Ga.) 1 up
Don Marsh/Spencer Sappington (Ga.) def. Frank Vines/Bill Moor (Ala.) 3 and 1
Sam Farlow/Don Blanton (Ala.) def. Kim Schwencke/Ronnie Tumlin (Fla.) 4 and 3
Kim Schwencke/Ronnie Tumlin (Fla.) vs. Bill Ploeger/Donald Crump (Ga.) All Square
Sam Farlow/Don Blanton (Ala.) def. Bill Ploeger/Donald Crump (Ga.) 1 up
Jimmy Brandt/Bart Barnes (Ala.) vs. Stephen Anderson/Jon Veneziano (Fla.) All Square
Dave Womack/Adam Thomas (Ga.) def. Stephen Anderson/Jon Veneziano (Fla.) 2 up
Jimmy Brandt/Bart Barnes (Ala.) def. Dave Womack/Adam Thomas (Ga.) 1 up
Will Swift/Steve Hudson (Ala.) def. Garrett Morrison/T.J. Shuart (Fla.) 3 and 1
Mark Strickland/Greg Kennedy (Ga.) def. Garrett Morrison/T.J. Shuart (Fla.) 3 and 1
Mark Strickland/Greg Kennedy (Ga.) def. Will Swift/Steve Hudson (Ala.) 3 and 2
Talbert Griffin/Vic Kyatt (Ala.) vs. Jeff Golden/Doug Snoap (Fla.) All Square
David Noll/Josh Gregory (Ga.) def. Jeff Golden/Doug Snoap (Fla.) 3 and 2
David Noll/Josh Gregory (Ga.) def. Talbert Griffin/Vic Kyatt (Ala.) 3 and 2
Woodie Eubanks/Robert Nelson (Ala.) vs. Jeff Williams/Kelly Gosse (Fla.) All Square
Chris Hall/Jeff Belk (Ga.) def. Jeff Williams/Kelly Gosse (Fla.)) 5 and 4
Chris Hall/Jeff Belk (Ga.) def. Woodie Eubanks/Robert Nelson (Ala.) 3 and 2
Round Two Points: Georgia – 8 ½; Alabama – 5 ½; Florida – 4