By Rick Colvin
With a Landings Club professional playing for each of the four teams for the first time, Marshwood and Oakridge won their first Bouchillon-Ambrose Cup matches of the year January 20 on the Palmetto course.
Marshwood lead professional Zachary Biggin paired with Tim McDermott beat their opponents, Deer Creek head pro Spencer Scheeler and Tim Sampson, to help Marshwood to give Oakridge a 7.5 to 4.75 spanking. Oakridge head pro Eric Mitchell teamed up with Paul Lieberman to eke out a one-up win against Lacy Skwarek and her partner, John Landuyt, contributing to a decisive 8.5 to 4 victory over Palmetto.
“We have always had a great relationship with the pro staff but having them play in the B-A Cup will really help to cement that relationship and the engagement between LMGA and the Landings Club,” said LMGA President Peter Quinn.
The format for the day was modified alternate shot with each team choosing the best drive and then alternating in from there.
The match between Mitchell-Lieberman and Skwarek-Landuyt had a dramatic finish. The Oakridge team was three up on hole No. 7, with only three holes left to play because they had started on the back nine. After a Mitchell drive, and a Lieberman second shot, Mitchell hit a chip from about 15 yards to five feet from the hole. Meanwhile, Landuyt had hit a second shot that barely flew the marsh on the right side of the fairway. Skwarek hit her approach to about 10 feet in front of the green. Landuyt then chipped in for a birdie and Lieberman missed the putt to lose the hole. The Palmetto pair won the 8th hole but tied the 9th with a par to lose one down.
“I am a competitive person when on the golf course so, whether I am playing a few holes with friends or a match with a fellow staff member, I want to win,” Mitchell said. “Playing in the BA cup got my competitive juices flowing.”
McDermott said he enjoyed playing with Zach Biggin and against Spencer Scheeler. “With regard to the pros, aside from watching some great shots, it was nice to spend four hours with both of these guys,” he said. “ t’s a great opportunity to get to know them better, and I welcome the opportunity to tee it up with them again!”
Tony Lombard and Brian Mitchell each contributed a ¼ point to the Oakridge total. John Marich contributed ¼ point to Deer Creek’s total.
The B-A Cup is a yearlong tournament among four teams that are each named after one of the clubhouses. The teams compete monthly in a variety of formats, culminating in a three-day final tournament in October to determine the champion.
