GOSHEN, KY (October 21, 2021) – For the third straight year, golfers of the Kentucky Golf Association have won the Challenge Cup over the state’s PGA Professionals. The annual Ryder Cup-style tournament took place on Thursday at Big Spring Country Club – Harmony Landing Course with the amateurs topping the professionals by a score of 15.5-8.5.

The competition took place with six four-ball matches, six foursomes matches and a dozen singles matches over the course of the day. Each match was nine holes with the four-ball and foursomes matches featuring the same pairings and oppositions in both sessions. Team KGA earned more points in every session, leading to a comfortable victory for twelve of the best male amateurs in Kentucky.

FOUR-BALL SUMMARY

Every match reached at least the 8^th hole with four of the six matches coming down to the 9^th to decide the result. Andy Roberts and Matt Epperson, who teamed up back in May to win the Kentucky Team Championship together, got the first point of the competition with a 2&1 victory. Robert Costello and David Huffman of Team KPGA won 2 UP in the next match out, but that would be the Section’s only win of the session. Team KGA won two of the remaining four-ball matches while the other two ended in ties. That put Team KGA up 4-2 in the early goings.

FOURSOMES SUMMARY

Team KGA won three of the first four alternate shot battles to build itself a comfortable lead nearing the halfway point. Team KPGA was able to win the final two matches of the session to narrow the gap and keep hope alive heading into singles. The session still went the way of the amateurs, however, by a score of 3.5-2.5. That put Team KGA up 7.5-4.5 heading into singles, needing just 4.5 more points to retain the Challenge Cup.

SINGLES SUMMARY

It did not take long for those 4.5 points to be obtained, as the amateurs got off to a quick start in singles and never opened the door for Team KPGA in the final set of matches. In the opening match, Drake Stepter erased a 2 DOWN deficit against Robert Costello to finish the match in a tie. That was immediately followed by Andy Roberts, Hayden Warren and Tadd Switzer all winning matches to put Team KGA on the brink of another victory. That was sealed with Bradley Sutherland topping Eric Voss 1 UP, assuring Team KGA would win the tournament for the third straight year. The amateurs doubled the professionals in points for the session, taking singles 8-4, putting the bow on a 15-5-8.5 final result.

“It means everything to win the Challenge Cup for the third straight year,” Jim Thompson, President of the Kentucky Golf Association and captain of Team KGA stated. “To keep this winning streak alive means a lot to us and I’m very proud of our team. The consistency of all the players was remarkable; conditions were tough with the wind being strong and the rough being thick, but they hit some remarkable golf shots today and it was real fun to watch.”

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INDIVDUAL PLAYER RECORDS

TEAM KGA
Tom Campbell: 2-0-1 (2 points)
George Chandler: 0-1-2 (0.5 points)
Matt Epperson: 3-0-0 (3 points)
Josh Rhodes: 1-2-0 (2 points)
Andy Roberts: 3-0-0 (3 points)
Drake Stepter: 1-2-0 (2 points)
Brad Sutherland: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)
Tadd Switzer: 2-0-1 (2 points)
Kevin Waldie: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)
Hayden Warren: 2-0-1 (2 points)
Tony Wise: 3-0-0 (3 points)
Alex Wright: 0-1-2 (0.5 points)

TEAM KPGA
Robert Costello: 1-2-0 (2 points)
David Huffman: 0-2-1 (1 point)
Daniel Iceman III: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)
Brad Maynard: 0-1-2 (0.5 points)
Aaron McDowell: 1-0-2 (1 point)
John Mullendore: 0-0-3 (0 points)
Chris Schuler: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)
Bryan Slone: 1-0-2 (1 point)
Carson Stone: 1-0-2 (1 point)
Eric Voss: 0-0-3 (0 points)
Tom Walters: 1-0-2 (1 point)
Logan Watts: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)

Golf House Kentucky extends its thanks to Andy Pole, PGA Head Golf Professional at Big Spring Country Club – Harmony Landing Course and his entire team for their hosting and hospitality throughout the day. Additionally, the organization appreciates Levelwear for providing the attire worn by each participant during the event and the members of each team for competing in the tournament.

This marks the final KGA-sanctioned tournament of the season with one event remaining on the KPGA’s schedule. That will be the Pro-Pro Series Championship presented by Golf Pro Payments, which will be held at Greenbrier Golf & Country Club on October 25-26.