N.J. Golfers Propel Wmga To Griscom Cup Triumph

Led by five New Jersey golfers, the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association displayed an excellent showing by capturing the 112th Inter-City Competition for the Clement A. Griscom Cup on May 27 and 28.

The team of nine highly-skilled golfers was selected by Team Competitions Chair Alicia Kapheim of Hopewell Valley to compete against the teams from Philadelphia and Massachusetts at the prestigious Philadelphia Country Club in Philadelphia.. This competitive two-day, three-way match play competition featured great golf from all teams. The WMGA maintained an early lead after the Foursomes matches and was able to bring home the Griscom Cup, their last coming in 2006.

Final scores were WMGA 42, Philadelphia 35.5, Massachusetts 30.5.

This historic match play competition dates all the way back to 1898, and there was no better place to hold it than one of the oldest golf courses in the country. The 125-year-old Philadelphia Country Club was the first club selected to be a member of the USGA after the five original clubs founded the USGA. The course played tough for the two days as the women experienced resilient weather conditions. The overnight rain softened up the rock-hard greens; however, an approach shot to the green still required pinpoint accuracy.

The team, represented by New Jerseyans Sue DeKalb of Bella Vista, Tara Fleming of New Jersey National, Fran Gacos of Copper Hill, Adrienne MacLean of Montclair and Scotland Preston of Echo Lake, plus Laura Algiero, Dani Mullin, Ellen Oswald and Liliana Ruiz came out swinging on Day 1, the Foursomes matches.

Kaphiem, a WMGA Board Member, served as non-playing captain while DeKalb was the alternate for both the foursomes and singles matches.

Alternate shot is not an easy format but Alicia Kapheim spoke to each team member prior to the team pairings. She then consulted with team member “strategist” Sue DeKalb and obviously, the results speak for themselves. With the near perfect performance by the team of Scotland Preston and 4-time Griscom Cup winner, Adrienne MacLean, their 5 ½ points hit the scoreboard first. The other WMGA pairings followed suite with a strong showing capturing the Foursomes matches with a total of 17 ½ points despite play being halted due to thunderstorms, the matches were resumed early the next morning.

With a seven-point lead going into the Singles matches, the WMGA team wondered if this was the year to break Philadelphia’s five-year winning streak. Once again the team of Kapheim and DeKalb went to work on the line up for the Singles matches hoping the winning combination would be found. Once the line ups were announced for the Singles matches, the WMGA team members were quite satisfied with their respective opponents and were anxious for the matches to begin. Historically speaking, the WMGA had not fared well in the Singles matches; however, this drought was soon to be over. Val DePiro, WMGA President, Phyllis Gusick, WMGA VP of Competitions and Nancy Early, WMGA Executive Director were the designated cheerleaders and helped provide team score updates to Kapheim and DeKalb.

Another thunderstorm came through in the early afternoon and Singles play was also delayed; however, everyone was able to come in and enjoy a nice lunch before play was resumed shortly before 3:00 pm. A slow wave of excitement started to rise during this rain delay because three of the eight matches were nearly complete and the WMGA was having a strong showing.

In only her second Griscom Cup, Liliana Ruiz drained a 30-foot putt on the 16th hole to capture a perfect six out of six points to help lead the WMGA to their 42nd Griscom Cup victory. The team was able to collect 24 ½ Singles match points thus guiding the WMGA to their first Griscom Cup in nine years.

Three of our ladies were on the previous winning team, Sue DeKalb, Adrienne MacLean and Laura Algiero, but this win was something special for Adrienne MacLean. “Of all my years on Griscom, this was truly the best team effort put forth… Everyone knew their job and got it done. Great mix of young and not so young,” MacLean says. Along with MacLean, Sue DeKalb was on the winning teams when the WMGA won from 2004-2006.

The credit of winning the Griscom Cup is not only given to the players. Team captain, Alicia Kapheim, received praise for not only assembling the team, but also for selecting their order of play. Valerie DePiro was beyond excitement. “On behalf of the WMGA Board, I just wanted to congratulate you all again for a great win. Thank you to your captain Alicia for putting together a great team and to Sue for her supporting role as strategist,”

DePiro said in an email to the team the night after their victory.

The Inter-City win and celebration will not look to end here. On July 1 and 2, at Trump National in Colts Neck, the WMGA Junior Girls are aiming for their fifth straight Junior Inter-City Championship.