2012 Team Philadelphia.

Team Philadelphia defeats NJSGA; retains Compher Cup

  Team Philadelphia was keyed to victory by winning eight of the 12 singles matches.

  Stephen Hudacek, III of Glenmaura National Golf Club and Michael Brown of Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association were the only Team Philadelphia pairing, however, to each win a singles match and team together for a better-ball victory.

  “It’s certainly nice to be able to contribute to the win against such great competition on a difficult course setup,” said Hudacek. “Both Mike and I struggled coming out of the gate, finding ourselves 3-down early in the team match. Our play steadied on the back nine when Mike made a critical par on the long par 3, No. 10. We went on to card three birdies in the middle of the round that helped to secure the better-ball point.”

  Other GAP singles winners were captain Andy Achenbach of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve; Peter Barron, III of Stone Harbor Golf Club; Andrew Mason of Huntingdon Valley Country Club; Stephen Seiden of Llanerch Country Club; Jamie Slonis of Tavistock Country Club and Glenn Smeraglio of Mercer Oaks Golf Course. Mason and partner Marc Mandel of Philadelphia Cricket Club were the only other GAP better-ball winners, teaming together for a 1-up victory over New Jersey’s Pat Wilson of Panther Valley Golf Club and Ryan McCormick of Suburban Golf Club.

  “With the firm conditions, wind and fast greens, home course knowledge really played a huge factor in the GAP's win,” said Achenbach, who improved to 5-0-1 in Compher Cup singles action. “Regardless of what team you represented, Philmont and the golf associations made the day fun for all.”

  In the Compher Cup, each association fields a 12-man team with players simultaneously competing in a singles match and four-ball match. A total of 18 points is available. Matches that end in a tie result in a half point for the team.

  Fred Compher, a former New Jersey State Golf Association president, conceived the neighborhood matches after leaving his post in 1959. Compher donated a silver trophy that year earmarked for such a rivalry.

  In 1961, association representatives Bob Jacobson of New Jersey and Richard Ollmah of GAP completed the details. In 1962, the first Compher Cup matches took place. That year, the NJSGA side forged a 5–1 lead in the morning foursomes’ competitions and held serve in the afternoon singles matches for an 11.5-6.5 victory.

Compher Cup Matches
Philmont Country Club (North)
April 25, 2012
The Compher Cup pits two 12-man teams from each association in an individual match and a four-ball match.
Each match is worth one point.
Name, club	Points		Points	Name, club
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock CC	1	Match 1 <1-up	0	Jay Blumenfeld, Mountain Ridge GC
Andy Achenbach, RiverCrest GC & Preserve	1	Match 2 <3&2	0	Ron Vannelli, Metuchen G&CC
Four-ball	0.5	Match 3 All Square	0.5	Four-ball
Stephen Hudacek, III, Glenmaura National GC	1	Match 4 <1-up	0	Allan Small, Fairmount CC
Michael R. Brown, Mercer Oaks GC	1	Match 5 <3&2	0	Kevin McSorley, Charleston Springs GC
Four-ball	1	Match 6 <3&2	0	Four-ball
Stephen Seiden, Llanerch CC	1	Match 7 <2&1	0	Matthew Finger, Darlington GC
Peter Barron, III, Stone Harbor GC	1	Match 8 <4&3	0	Gregg Angelillo, Baltusrol GC
Four-ball	0	Match 9 1-up>	1	Four-ball
Mike Meisenzahl, Little Mill CC	0	Match 10 1-up>	1	Brian Komline, Black Oak GC
Robert Galbreath, Jr., Philmont CC	0	Match 11 1-up>	1	Niall Handlay, Essex Fells GC
Four-ball	0.5	Match 12 All Sqaure	0.5	Four-ball
Jeff Osberg, Llanerch CC	0	Match 13 4&2>	1	Thomas Gramigna, Tavistock CC
Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks GC	1	Match 14 <4&2	0	Ben Smith, Little Mill CC
Four-ball	0.5	Match 15 All Square	0.5	Four-ball
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club	0	Match 16 1-up>	1	Pat Wilson, Panther Valley G&CC
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley CC	1	Match 17 <5&4	0	Ryan McCormick, Suburban GC
Four-ball	1	Match 18 <1-up	0	Four-ball
	11.5	Total	6.5