Gap Defeats NJSGA In 51st Compher Cup Match

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA (April 25, 2012) -- In the annual spring faceoff of neighboring golf associations, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) defeated the NJSGA team, 11.5-6.5, in the 51ST Compher Cup matches at Philmont Country Club’s North Course.

View the team photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/njsga/7115768755/

Several close matches turned into late defeats for the NJSGA team, which last won in 2009. The match pitted an NJSGA team of leading amateurs against a similar squad from the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) in the 51st Compher Cup matches today.GAP leads the series, 34-12-4.

Official scoring link: http://gapgolf.org/charts.asp?sfile=uploads/steams/2012_compher_cup_results.html

The New Jersey team was captained by Allan Small of Fairmount, who has represented the New Jersey State Golf Association in more Compher Cup matches than anyone except legendary Bob Housen of Manasquan River.

The North Course, the newer and more challenging of Philmont’s two courses at 6,670 yards, was designed by William Flynn in 1924.

Small, who won his third NJSGA Senior Amateur Championship last August, competed in his 25th Compher Cup. Housen has played in 32 of the matches.

Joining Small on the NJSGA team, which was selected based on accumulated points in the Player of the Year standings, are 11 others.

Golfers representing the NJSGA included Benjamin Smith of Little Mill, Matthew Finger of Darlington, Pat Wilson of Panther Valley, Ryan McCormick of Suburban, Niall Handley of Essex Fells, Brian Komline of Black Oak, Tom Gramigna of Tavistock, Kevin McSorley of Charleston Springs, Ron Vannelli of Metuchen and Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge and Greg Angelillo of Baltusrol. Vannelli and Blumenfeld each competed in his 15th Compher Cup.

Gramigna, Wilson, Komline and Handley all won matches at Philmont North.

GAP prevailed, 13-5, in the 50th Compher Cup match of 2011, played at Trump National Golf Club–Colts Neck. The last victory for the NJSGA squad came in 2009, 13.5-4.5, in a match played at the Hollywood Golf Club in Deal.

Frederic Compher, for whom the cup is named, was a past President of the NJSGA and Suburban Golf Club member. He donated the trophy and helped create the intersectional matches in 1962. Each year in the early spring, 12-man teams from the NJSGA and GAP compete in an 18-hole match consisting of individual and team competitions.

Points are awarded for each single and four-ball win, and the team that accumulates the most points wins the Cup, a beautiful 18-inch sterling silver bowl.The Compher Cup bears this inscription: “To promote keen rivalry and thorough sportsmanship between the players of these districts who represent and support the best traditions of golf.”

2012 COMPHER CUP RESULTS:

Jamie Slonis, Tavistock (GAP), def. Jay Blumenfeld, Mountain Ridge, 1 up; Andy Achenbach, RiverCrest (GAP), def. Ron Vannelli, Metuchen, 3 and 2; Four-Ball match halved.

Steve Hudacek, Glenmaura (GAP), def. Allan Small, Fairmount, 1 up; Michael Brown, Philadelphia Publinks (GAP), def. Ryan McSorley, Charleston Springs, 3 and 2; GAP wins Four-Ball, 3 and 2.

Steve Seiden, Llanerech (GAP) def. Matthew Finger, Darlington, 2 and 1; Peter Barron, Stone Harbor (GAP), def. Gregg Angelillo, Baltusrol, 4 and 3; NJSGA wins Four-Ball, 1 up.

Tom Gramigna, Tavistock (NJSGA), def. Jeff Osberg, LLanrech, 3 and 2; Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks (GAP), def. Benjamin Smith, Little Mill, 4 and 2; Four-Ball match halved.

Pat Wilson, Panther Valley (NJSGA) def. Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket, 1 up; Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley (GAP), def. Ryan McCormick, Suburban, 5 and 4; GAP wins Four-Ball, 1 up.

Brian Komline, Black Oak (NJSGA) def. Mike Meisenzahl, Little Mill, 2 up; Niall Handley, Essex Fells (NJSGA) def. Robert Galbreath, Philmont, 1 up. Four-Ball match halved.