NJ Team Wins Compher Cup

DEAL, N.J. Reversing its recent fortunes, the NJSGA team defeated the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) team today in the annual playing of the Compher Cup matches. The NJSGA team surged to a 13.5 - 4.5 point victory in the team and individual match play event held at Hollywood Golf Club, its first victory since 2004.

The Compher Cup is named for a past President of the NJSGA and Suburban Golf Club member, Fred Compher, who 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 square off in an 18-hole match which consists 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 NJSGA team enjoyed success across most of its pairings today, winning or halving 10 of 12 individual matches and winning or halving 5 of 6 team matches. Although Hollywood played a long 6,800 yards after absorbing two inches of rain the day before, it was home field advantage for the NJSGA players, which contributed partly to their success today. The NJSGA team was captained by veteran Allan Small of Fairmount Country Club.

Following are the individual and team results:

Greg Stebbins, Essex County def. Rand Mendez, Fieldstone - 2&1
Jon Tingley, Stanton Ridge def. Sean Leonard, Tavistock - 3&2
Stebbins/Tingley halved Mendez/Leonard

Mike Paduano, GC of NJ def. Chris Esbenshade, Five Ponds - 4&3
Domenic Gatto, Eagle Oaks def. Michael Brown, Phil. Publinks GA - 1 up
Paduano/Gatto def. Esbenshade/Brown - 3&2

Tom Hyland, Little Mill def. Stephen Seiden, Concord - 2&1
Ron Vannelli, Metuchen def. Jeffrey Griest, Waynesborough - 2&1
Hyland/Vannelli def. Seiden/Griest - 3&2

Michael Deo, High Bridge Hills def. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntington Valley - 3&1
Gregg Angelillo, Montclair halved David West, Whitford
Deo/Angelillo def. Galbreath/West - 2&1

Mike Danner, Lu Lu def. Jay Blumenfeld, Mountain Ridge - 4&3
James Donnelly, Merion def. Allan Small, Fairmount - 3&2
Danner/Donnelly def. Blumenfeld/Small - 5&4

Michael Stamberger, Plainfield halved John Brennan, Spring Ford
Tom Gramigna, Tavistock def. Glenn Smeraglio, Commonwealth Natl. - 1 up
Stamberger/Gramigna def. Brennan/Smeraglio - 3&2