Elizabethtown, KY (April 18th, 2025) - This year marked the inaugural East/West Cup! With 18 players on each team, the matches are a competition between the best amateur golfers in Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky.  The dividing line is Interstate I-65; any county that touches I-65, along with Jefferson and Warren Counties, will be considered part of the West.

Participation in the East/West Cup is by invitation only. Team composition and selections were determined based on the Player of the Year (POY) rankings from the previous year, 2024.

“One of the best things about this tournament is the ability to play with different age divisions,” Elmo Greer, Legends Division.

Each team has a captain, who is also a playing member. These captains are selected by the president of the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) Board.

The team structure is as follows:

John C. Owens (Open Division) - 4 players for each side

Tom Musselman (Senior Division 50+) - 4 players for each side

Dale Barnstable (Masters Division 60+) - 4 players for each side

Don Smith (Legends Division 70+) - 4 players for each side

Team captains also get two captain’s picks, chosen from the John C. Owens standings, and these players must have participated in at least two KGA events in the prior year.

The format of this event is unique and offers opportunities to connect within the KGA community.

The Format is as follows:

1st Nine: Two-Person Scramble

2nd Nine: Four Ball

3rd Nine: Odd/Even Alternate Shot

Scoring is based on each hole being worth one total point, and a team cannot score more than seven points in a match.

The event kicked off on Thursday,  April 17, with a pairings party where players enjoyed appetizers, socializing, and the captains announcing the pairings through a snake draft. 

Friday, April 18 started with a scramble format on the front nine, where the East team took an early lead, 46 to 44. The format then transitioned into four-ball on the back nine, where the East team built on their lead to make it 46.50 to 43.50. Finally, the format changed to alternate shot for the final nine holes. The West team came back and took the lead in the final round briefly before the East team closed them out for the final victory. The East team had to claimed the last round at 43.50 to 46.50.

The inaugural East/West Cup was claimed by the East team, by a total score of 136! Having won, the East team will host in 2026. There will be a rotation to the West side in 2027 and will alternate annually thereafter.

Click here to view the final results

Click here to view the photo gallery

The KGA Section extends its gratitude to Elizabethtown Country Club and its key personnel: Head Professional Christian Ramirez, PGA; General Manager Corey Stith, PGA; Superintendent Brian Creager, GCSAA; Clubhouse Events Manager Matt Eperson; and the facility’s entire staff for their assistance in conducting this event.

The KGA looks forward to the upcoming 2025 Am Series at The Pearl Club on Monday, April 28. Click here to view the full KGA event schedule. 

About the KGA:

The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is the official governing body for amateur golf in the Commonwealth, as recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Established in 1911, the KGA is a full-service organization representing more than 120 member golf courses across Kentucky.

Led by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of course representatives from throughout the state, the KGA plays a vital role in promoting, supporting, and growing the game of golf in Kentucky. It is also a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations.

As an Allied Golf Association of the USGA, the KGA is responsible for a wide range of services, including managing the World Handicap System, conducting course ratings, providing expertise on the Rules of Golf, running competitive tournaments and USGA qualifiers, and enhancing the visibility and branding of golf throughout the Commonwealth.

Media Contact:

Skylar Thornton | Golf House Kentucky | sthornton@kygolf.org