Bob Edelblut
The Ryder Cup, like the name implies, mimics the PGA’s Ryder Cup format. In this tournament the MPMGA and the SMGA have the opportunity to showcase their very best golfers. Each Men’s Club puts together a team with 15 of its lowest handicap players and one of its resident professionals. Yes, all these players are good and bragging rights for the year are a sought after reward. The format has been the same for years. Each club hosts one day’s event and the overall winner is the club that accumulates the most points in the two-day match play competition. Day one was played on the courses of HOA 1 and there were two different nine-hole matches. One was a two-man better ball competition and the other was a two-man alternate shot competition. Eight was the maximum number of points that could be won in each nine-hole competition, 16 the maximum for a day. On day two the venue switched to the Preserve and 16 individual matches were played. Again, there were 16 points up for grabs. The MPMGA club was defending the cup which meant that the SMGA needed to win 16.5 points to take the cup away from the MPMGA. Keep that number in mind.
Day one, February 6, started as if the MPMGA might, just might, steal the show from the SMGA. After the first set of matches was completed we were ahead by two points—so much for home field advantage. Oops! The SMGA showed that they were a force to be reckoned with by winning the second set of matches by five points. The SMGA led after day one by three points—9.5 to 6.5. Day two, February 9, had to be a better day for the MPMGA team—they had the home field advantage. Well, something happened on the way to the bank. The SMGA team continued its stellar play and outlasted the MPMGA team, winning nine to seven. In case you forgot, the number of points the SMGA team needed to win the title—it was 16.5. They earned 18.5 points and took the Ryder Cup trophy away from the MPMGA. Individual scores show just how close all the matches were. Not one player on either team won points on each day of the event. Everyone should be congratulated for their performance. Well done, SMGA.
The awards luncheon and BBQ were held at HOA 1’s Baja Grill and plenty of drink and fine food were enjoyed by all. Again, we thank David Cohen and Gus Pachis for organizing another top notch tournament. Thank you.