ASGA Amateurs Nab Victory from Arkansas PGA Chapter in 33rd Nike Cup
For immediate release – October 29, 2007 – For more information, contact Jay Fox, 501-455-2742
Sixteen amateurs representing the Arkansas State Golf Association earned a narrow 18-14 victory from 16 Professionals representing the Arkansas PGA Chapter in the 33rd Nike Cup Matches at the Hot Springs Country Club October 27-28..
The Ryder Cup format consisted of eight four-ball matches, eight foursome (alternate shot) matches and 16 individual matches, with each match worth one point. The amateurs have now won 10 of the past 11 matches and lead the overall series 23-10.
“This was very close, literally right down to the last putt of the last match,” amateur captain Roy McSpadden, of Russellville, said. “I didn’t see one of our guys give anything but the best. Without the total team effort and hardnosed attitude of the team, the outcome could easily have been different.”
The professionals won the four-ball matches 4 ˝ to 3 ˝ as Barry Howard, HSCC Director of Golf, teamed with Art Romero of Texarkana Country Club to earn a point as did host professional Tim Zimmerebner, teaming with Foxwood Golf Club’s Rick Jenkins. Grant Masson of The Alotian Club and Cimarron Grubb of Maumelle Country Club also earned a point. The senior teams of Bruce Dickey-Oscar Taylor and Bev Hargraves-Stan Lee, who won both four-ball matches, led the amateurs.
The amateurs turned the tide in the Foursome Matches winning 5-3 to grab and 8 ˝ to 7˝ lead at the end of day one. The senior amateur teams again won both matches while Howard. Jenkins, Romero, Zimmerebner and Eddie Roethlisberger of Big Creek Country Club in Mountain Home remained undefeated for the professional team.
Tom Heffer of Hot Springs Village and Romero saved a key point for the PGA team rallying from a four-down deficit after 12 holes against Beau Glover and Nick Crisco, to win five of the last six holes for a 1-up victory.
A heavy fog awaited golfers at HSCC Sunday morning and the amateurs again took advantage of the seniors earning three of four points. Hargraves, the 2007 ASGA Senior Player of the Year, Bruce Dickey, runner-up to Hargraves and Stan Lee, 2007 USGA Senior Amateur Champion, all ran their records to 3-0 with individual victories. The pros rallied winning 2 ˝ of the next 3 possible points, but the amateurs won 6 of the last 8 matches to win the individual matches 9 ˝ to 6 ˝.
ASGA Amateur Player of the Year Ron Mangold of Pocahontas, displayed the true team spirit and camaraderie closely tied to the Nike Cup. Four down with four to play, Mangold rallied with three birdies and a par to win all four holes and earn a half-point against The Alotian Club’s Grant Masson, 2007 Arkansas PGA Chapter Champion. Nathan Circle, close friend of Mangold, playing in his first Nike Cup, sealed the victory for the amateurs with a nifty up-and-down from the short side at 17 securing the Silver Nike Cup. As Circle’s par-putt was being conceded, Wes McNulty of Pine Bluff was holing a birdie putt at 16 to put the final nail in the professional’s coffin. McNulty went on to defeat Zimmerebner, the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 PGA Chapter Player of the Year, 1-up.
“Congratulations to the amateurs on a great victory,” stated Grubb, 2007 PGA Chapter President. “It was an honor to participate in this great event and a pleasure to spend the weekend with the amateur team.”
McSpadded agreed, and added, “being selected captain was easily the greatest honor I’ve ever had in golf. I really appreciate the opportunity to join in on all the fun.”
- End -
- Results for both Saturday and Sunday enclosed -
33rd Nike Cup Matches @ Hot Springs Country Club
Amateurs Points Won Professionals
Captain: Roy McSpadden Jeff Hamm & Randy Beaver
9:00 Bruce Dickey, Paragould 1 - 0 Fletcher White, Rosswood CC
Oscar Taylor, Hot Springs Village Bill Agler, Fayetteville CC
9:10 Bev Hargraves, Helena 1 - 0 Steve Ralston, Burns Park GC
Stan Lee, Heber Springs Pete Cook, Burns Park GC
9:20 Tracy Harris, Little Rock 0 - 1 Art Romero, Texarkana CC
Mark Bartlett, Searcy Barry Howard, Hot Springs CC
9:30 Ron Mangold, Pocahonatas 0 - 1 Grant Masson, The Alotian Club
Nathan Circle, Hardy Cimarron Grubb, Maumelle CC
9:40 Neal Westbrook, Russellville ˝ - ˝ Mike Singletary, Bella Vista
Rick Coatney, Fort Smith Mike Socha, Diamante CC
9:50 Chris Jenkins, Little Rock 1 - 0 Tim Jenkins, CC of Arkansas
Wes McNulty, Pine Bluff Tom Heffer, Hot Springs Village
10:00 Beau Glover, Sherwood 0 - 1 Jon Zieske, The Alotian Club
Mark Graham, Fort Smith Eddie Roethlisberger, Big Creek CC
10:10 Nick Crisco, McRae 0 - 1 Tim Zimmerebner, Hot Springs CC
Scott Crisco, McRae Rick Jenkins, Foxwood GC
1:30 Bev Hargraves & Bruce Dickey 1 - 0 Bill Agler & Fletcher White
1:40 Stan Lee & Oscar Taylor 1 - 0 Pete Cook & Steve Ralston
1:50 Tracy Harris & Neal Westbrook 1 - 0 Tim Jenkins & Mike Socha
2:00 Ron Mangold & Mark Bartlett 1 - 0 Grant Masson & Jon Zieske
2:10 Beau Glover & Nick Crisco 0 - 1 Art Romero & Tom Heffer
2:20 Rick Coatney & Nathan Circle 0 - 1 Eddie Roethlisberger & Rick Jenkins
2:30 Chris Jenkins & Scott Crisco 0 - 1 Tim Zimmerebner & Barry Howard
2:40 Wes McNulty & Mark Graham 1 - 0 Mike Singletary & Cimarron Grubb
1st Day Totals 8 ˝ 7 ˝
Ams Pros
33rd Nike Cup Matches @ Hot Springs Country Club
Amateurs Points Won Professionals
Captain: Roy McSpadden Jeff Hamm & Randy Beaver
10:00 Bev Hargraves, Helena 1 – 0 Fletcher White, Rosswood CC
Oscar Taylor, Hot Springs Vil 0 – 1 Bob Ralston, The First Tee of LR
10:10 Stan Lee, Heber Springs 1 – 0 Bill Agler, Fayetteville CC
Bruce Dickey, Paragould 1 – 0 Steve Ralston, Burns Park GC
10:20 Mark Bartlett, Searcy 0 – 1 Art Romero, Texarkana CC
Ron Mangold, Pocahontas ˝ - ˝ Grant Masson, The Alotian Club
10:30 Scott Crisco, McRae 0 – 1 Cimarron Grubb, Maumelle CC
Nick Crisco, McRae 0 – 1 Mike Singletary, Bella Vista
10:40 Beau Glover, Sherwood 1 – 0 Jon Zieske, The Alotian Club
Neal Westbrook, Russellville 1 – 0 Rick Jenkins, Foxwood GC
10:50 Tracy Harris, Little Rock 0 – 1 Tim Jenkins, CC of Arkansas
Chris Jenkins, Little Rock 1 – 0 Eddie Roethlisberger, Big Creek CC
11:00 Rick Coatney, Fort Smith 1 – 0 Barry Howard, Hot Springs CC
Nathan Circle, Hardy 1 – 0 Tom Heffer, Hot Springs Village
11:10 Mark Graham, Fort Smith 0 – 1 Mike Socha, Diamante CC
Wes McNulty, Pine Bluff 1 – 0 Tim Zimmerebner, Hot Springs CC
Day 1 Totals 8 ˝ 7 ˝
Ams Pros
Final Results 18 14