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Presidents Cup Comes to Winthrop
For the first time disc golf’s Presidents Cup will be played on American soil and team USA will look to continue their dominance when they square off against their European counterparts Oct. 5th at the Winthrop Gold Course.
Sandwiched between the U.S. Doubles Championship and the 2010 USDGC, this year’s Cup provides yet another must-see event during the Championship week.
The Americans have won all three of the past Cups with last year being the most lopsided victory of 27.5 to 4.5. Earlier years, though, have seen tight contests. And, regardless of the score, each competition has produced a lot of entertaining golf.
“We have run three Cups in Europe and in every event the tension has been thrilling,” Presidents Cup Tournament Director Jussi Meresmaa said.
This year’s American team includes returning members David Feldberg, Ken Climo, Nate Doss, Valarie Jenkins, plus three new faces, Nikko Locastro, Josh Anthon, and Des Reading. Feldberg, Climo, Doss, and Val Jenkins have played in every cup since its inception in 2006.
Across the pond, team Euro’s squad will be finalized after the European Championships, which runs from Aug. 26-29. Meresmaa, a top European player himself, is contending in points but will only make the trip to direct the competition.
Team captains include David Greenwell for the USA and Hans Tegeback for Europe. Both captains are able to pick an additional team member on draft day, Sept. 15th.
The last three cups were played in Tampere, Finland at the Epila Park Course prior to the European Open. This year’s move will provide some early fireworks to the USDGC scene and give American spectators a taste of what they’ve been missing. Meresmaa believes they’ll be in for a treat.
The President’s Cup will not just be a warm up for the USDGC, says Meresmaa. It’s about the world’s best disc golfers showing their skills in a team mode competition, he said.
“Presidents Cup will bring a whole different flavor to Winthrop,” Meresmaa said.
USDGC Director Jonathan Poole agrees. He said the Presidents cup “… adds a new dimension to the ‘championship disc golf’ feeling the USDGC sets out to provide each year. Watching Europe’s finest compete against America’s finest for the first time on American soil is something we deeply look forward to.”
The Europeans have their worked cut out for them yet again. Three premier players including three-time world champion Des Reading join an already formidable American team. Meresmaa said team USA may be stronger than ever, but he believes it will still be a tight contest.
Who knows what Winthrop Gold has in store for the two teams?
In round one, players from both sides, paired up four to a card, will take on holes 1 through 7 followed by holes 17 and 18 during stroke play. Points will be awarded to each team based on individual score for both males and females: 4 points for the lowest, 2 points for second, 1 point for third and 0 points for fourth. Players that tie will split the points in question.
Then, match play begins as each player is paired with an opponent on the same holes. The winner receives 3 points toward their team, while a tie splits those points for each team.
Last year, Doss lead the men during stroke play with a (-6), gaining four points for the Americans while Feldberg and Climo tacked on 1.5 points each with their (-3) scores. Europe’s Jesper Lundmark and Karl Johan Nybo came close with their (-2) scores, but earned no points for their fourth place finish. For the Women, Carrie “Burl” Berlogar added four points to team USA’s total with her (-1) as Birgitta Lagerholm of Europe and Val Jenkins earned 1.5 points with their (+3 score).
During match play Team USA almost pulled off a clean sweep except for Europe’s Lagerholm beat Berlogar 2 to 1.
Over the season, players earned qualifying points for the Cup from their play at various tournaments that included The Memorial Championship, the World Championship, the Japan Open, and the Scandinavian Open among others. Those narrowly missing the cut were Paul Ulibarri, and 2010 World Champions Eric McCabe and Sarah Stanhope.
Next year’s Cup will move back to its familiar Finland setting before the European Open.
Meresmaa said they are modeling the competition after pro golf’s Ryder Cup and plan to shift the location from time to time.
Fans should take advantage of this action packed week and head out to Rock Hill and Winthrop University. A week like this may be nearly impossible to repeat.
“Hosting these prestigious and historic matches will begin a week of competition in a most grand fashion. The 2010 President’s Cup is sure to be one of the highlights in US Championship history,” Poole said.
