Pro, amateur golfers to compete in Goldwater Cup

SCOTTSDALE - Local golfers representing the Scottsdale-based Southwest Section PGA and the Arizona Golf Association will compete Monday and Tuesday in the 48th annual Goldwater Cup matches at Mesa Country Club.

The event is named for the late Bob Goldwater Sr., a former state amateur champion and Arizona Golf Hall of Famer who is known as the father of the Phoenix (FBR) Open.Goldwater died in 2006. He was 96.

The annual matches promote friendly competition and camaraderie between the two groups, but also a high level of competition between club professionals from the SWSPGA and top amateur golfers representing the AGA.

After winning 14.5 to 9.5 last year at Phoenix Country Club, the SWSPGA's club professionals are riding a 24-year winning streak. They lead the overall series 34-13. The club pros in the senior division hold a 21-10-3 lead in the matches.

First-day play is foursome matches for the regular division in the morning, with four-ball matches for both divisions in the afternoon. Tuesday's play will consist of singles matches for both divisions.

The matches began in 1960 with the amateurs holding a decided advantage over the club pros, but since the early 1980s the SWSPGA team has been dominant.

This year's SWSPGA regular division team features Dean Vomacka, Glen Griffith, Scott Frisch, Bob Blean, Jeff Yurkiewicz, Chris Endres, Chris Dompier, Blayne Hobbs, Jason Magee, Ben Kreger, Greg Avant and Tony Rohlik.

The senior division team consists of Jon Stanley, Michael Wright, Ralph West, David Kluver, Bob Mann, Michael Franko, Greg Harmon, Jon Chaffee, Larry Mackin, Jay Friedman, Bob Pancratz and Will Frantz.

The AGA's regular division team will be captained by Michael Wog II. He will be joined by Paul Welle, Chris Kessler, Jacob Golembiewski, Rob McIver, Pat Geare, Erik Nielsen, Nick Carlson, Tommy Hays, Dalen Linnerson, Rusty Brown and Camron Howell.

The AGA's senior division team includes Tom Beach (captain), Cyrus Whitney, Jerry Loftis, Tom Sweigart, Larry Brasch, Jay Anderson, Steven Welker, Steve Dallas, Frank Ellenburg, Tom White, Duke DeBernardi and Russ Hatfield.

For information, call the SWSPGA at 480-443-9002.

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