PCCC claims inaugural Twin Pike Ryder Cup trophy

September 27, 2020 at 9:21 pm Gordon Sanders

EAGLE 102 Sports — This weekend launched a Ryder Cup competition in the Twin Pike Counties of Missouri and Illinois to determine which county was home to the best golfers. Old Orchard Country Club in Pittsfield and Pike County Country Club in Louisiana served as the backdrop for the area’s top golfers to determine who would lay claim to the trophy and bragging rights that accompany it through the inaugural year.

The selection process for each club involved their annual club championship results and handful of selections to strategically round out the roster for each team.

Pictured is Pike County Country Club’s Brayden Buffington (left) and Old Orchard Country Club’s Dave Bennett (right). Buffington (16) was the youngest player participating in the competition, and Bennett (78) was the most experienced. They were paired with Darren Feldewerth (24) and Steve Smith (65), respectively, for an age difference of 103 years between the teams. They finished the best ball round all square.

The roster for Old Orchard Country Club was made up of Geoff Baker, Dave Bennett, Jason Buss, Chad Coburn, Donnie Fray, Dustin Jenkins, Drew Kennedy, Clint McNulty, Shawn O’Brien, Scott Riley, Cory Roseberry, Ryan Stauffer, Brad Tomhave, Garrett White, Keenan Yelliott and 2020 Club Champion Steve Smith. It’s noteworthy that Smith has won at least one club championship in each of the last five decades.

The Pike County Country Club roster included Brent Branstetter, Dalton Branstetter, Robert Branstetter, Brayden Buffington, Coleman Chamberlain, Ryan Cox, Karl Dewey, Rodney Dolbeare, Brad Feldewerth, Darren Feldewerth, Hunter Feldewerth, Neil Feldewerth, Jared Henderson, Tim Jordan, Kyle Scherder and 2020 Club Champion Jordan Anderson.

Following a Friday evening shrimp boil hosted by Pike County Country Club, 36 holes were played Saturday in Pike County, Missouri with 12 Ryder Cup points available. The field of 32 golfers, 16 per team, paired off for 18 holes of best ball in the morning (8 points available), followed by 8 golfers being selected and paired from each team to play 18 holes of alternating shots (4 points available). Following the first day of play, Pike County Country Club led Old Orchard 7-5.

Pittsfield Mayor John Hayden welcomed those in attendance Sunday morning to Old Orchard Country Club and introduced pairings for 18 holes of individual match play with 16 Ryder Cup points up for grabs. All 16 players from each team competed against opponents identified during a Saturday evening selections process. Winners claimed a point for their team and ties (“All Square”) were awarded a half point.

Of the 16 matches played Sunday, 11 of the winners were not determined until there was three or fewer holes remaining in the match. Five matches required the full 18 holes to determine how points would be awarded. At the conclusion of the day, Pike County Country Club tallied a two-day total of 15 ½ points to Old Orchard Country Club’s 12 ½ points to claim the title of Twin Pike Ryder Cup Champion in the competition’s inaugural year.