Southern California PGA retains the North/South Cup

And I was there to do my part in retaining it.

SoCal 14 - NorCal 10

Each team is comprised of twelve players, each of which make the team based on performance at PGA sanctioned events held throughout the year. The event is three rounds of golf in Ryder Cup style. With 36 holes played on the first day (Monday the 1th) and 18 holes on Tuesday.

First match was best ball of partners. Pretty uneventful, my partner and I breezed through this match with a 3&2 win. Don't think we even gave up a hole. The second match on the other hand, wow, an emotional rollercoaster. This second match was alternate shot. I've never played alternate shot match play before. It was something else. My teammate and I got out to an early 3 up lead after 5 holes. We pushed a few holes and them, BAM, lost 5 in a row to go 2 down after 12. We battled back and forth on holes to end up all square after 17. My partner made HUGE putts on 15 and 16, both no less than 30 feet. One putt to tie on 15 for a birdie. The other on 16 to win the hole. As mentioned we pulled even after my partner stuck our approach to about 4 feet and I made the putt. By now, it was practically dark, but both my team and the opponents weren't anywhere close to giving up now after such a heated battle to this point. We teed off on the par 5 18th in the light of dusk, playing a lay-up and approach shot to the green. We were met on the green by both teams watching. Their team faced with a tricky, straight downhill off the top tier putt from about 40 feet. My team was left with a chip from a side-hill lie from about 15 feet off the green, pin high, with a good amount of green to work with. After checking out our shots, and preparing to play, we hear from their team, "let's call it for the night, its too dark." So, that was that. We marked our position and had to wait out the shot until the next morning. The match ended up with their team nearly making the putt, it stopping just inches short, dead in the heart. I chipped up to about 4 feet, and my partner made the putt. All Square.

The third round, Individual matches. Again, a crazy rollercoaster ride for me. In this match I played their captain in the second to last match. I came out HOT, getting to 3 up after just three holes. And then, my putter started to disobey me... On 5 I missed a birdie putt to win from no more than 3 feet. Went on to loose 6 by 3-putting, missed a birdie putt from 9 feet to tie on 9. By that time he'd pulled back to all square on the match. Again, missed a par putt on ten to win. Did make a nice 4 feet slider on 12 for eagle to win that hole. I was really stressing on that putt though. Followed that up by missing a 7 footer for par on 13 which would have won my the hole, but by that time I was back to 2up. He stuck one ultra close on 14 and won that hole, and my putter failed me, once again, on 15 where I missed from 5 feet for par to tie. By 17 we were all square again, were I found myself looking at a 7 footer for birdie to win the hole. I missed it. So, on to 18, the par 5. He practically chips in for eagle, leaving a few inches which I gave him... Myself, on in regulation staring at a 7 foot putt, straight and downhill. On top of that being in a late group I had the majority of my team, along with the majority of their team watching this all unfold on the green. I read my putt from behind the hole, then behind the ball, step up for my two practice strokes, and let it roll... Dead, into, the hole.

Match play is AWESOME! I can't wait to make the team next year!

Here's how all the matches played out...

http://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/s...eaderboard.htm


Tomorrow I'm off to play a 2-day event at Oak Valley. Oak Valley hosts 2nd stage Q School qualifying next week. From where I hear there are a number of Nationwide guys playing this event. Should be fun to see how I stack up against these guys...

Congratulations on the great play.

Oak Valley is the course that used to be PGA SoCal right? I didn't realize that course hosted Q-School.

Congratulations on the win and playing your part - matchplay is certainly something else!

We have our "Ryder Cup" against a local club coming up in the next few weeks and I'm so looking forward to it.

No, that's East Lake which is directly across the 10 FWY from Oak Valley. East Lake hosted Stage 1. Oak Valley is hosting 2. They are both top-notch facilities, to be that close in proximity is pretty neat.

Great job man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got some pictures to share...

Me



Southern California Team



North and South Group



Defenders



Winners