Team Carolinas Retains Captain’s Putter Matches Title

 

 

WILMINGTON, N.C. (October 14, 2023) -- Final results of the 78th Captain’s Putter Matches at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, N.C., on October 14, 2023.

 

Championship Website  |  Scoring  |  Photos  |  Rosters

 

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Cape Fear Country Club was the gorgeous backdrop for a back-and-forth battle in this year’s annual Captain’s Putter Matches edition. A tie in points saw Team Carolina retain the Captain’s Putter title over Team Virginias, with both squads accumulating 24 points each.

The Virginias held a 12½-11½ lead heading into the 24 singles matches, with strong first-day afternoon foursome (alternate shot) matches. Friday morning saw the Carolinas up early, 7-5, after the opening round of Four-Ball play. Saturday saw really even competition, with scores and matches going back and forth and with most of the round under windy and rainy conditions. The sun appeared late as groups finished, and the Putters Plaque was presented.

 

At today’s frantic conclusion of split tees play, a caravan of carts followed the last few remaining matches down the ninth and eighteenth holes, where the Carolinas secured 24 points exactly to retain. Virginias needed 24.5 to take the title away, coming up just short in a very fun and well-played two days of golf.

Format: Teams representing the Carolinas Golf Association (Carolinas), the Virginia State Golf Association, and West Virginia Golf Association (Virginias). The CGA encompasses both North and South Carolina. Each team consisted of 24 players—14 regulars, eight seniors (55+), and two super seniors (65+). One point is available per match. Matches tied after 18 holes end in a tie, resulting in a half-point for each side.

 

FRIDAY FOUR-BALL MATCHES: Carolinas 7, Virginias 5

FRIDAY FOURSOME (ALTERNATE SHOT) MATCHES: Virginias 7½, Carolinas 4½,

SATURDAY SINGLES MATCHES: Carolinas 12½, Virginias 11½

 

Final Scoring

 

Fun Facts:

• The Carolinas leads the all-time series 53-23-2 and has won six of the last nine meetings. The Carolinas has also won three of the last four road meetings. The last win at a Virginia club for the Virginias team was at Creighton Farms in 2014. The Virginias’ last home win came in 2020 at TPC Old White at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
• The Carolinas also won the other meeting between the teams at The Virginian back in 1994.
• The last time a team won more than twice in a row was when the Virginias won four straight from 2011-14.
• The Captain’s Putter Matches will return to a to-be-determined Virginias host club in 2024.
• Cape Fear Designed by: Donald Ross
• Carolinas Captain: Greg Norris (CGA Immediate Past President)
• Virginias Captain:  Gary Beck (VSGA Immediate Past President), Jordan Utley, Buck Brittain 
• Field: 24 from each team consisting of 14 regulars, 8 seniors (ages 50+) and 2 super seniors (ages 65+)

 

 

Websites: capefearcountryclub.net/, carolinasgolf.org, vsga.org, wvga.org

 

 

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank the Cape Fear Country Club members and staff, especially Director of Golf Chris Byrd, Director of Agronomy Ted Smith, and General Manager Mary Geiss, for graciously hosting the 78th Captain’s Putter Matches.

 

 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

 

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support, and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country, with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.

 

 

The CGA annually conducts 48 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 150 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed nearly $2,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives, including junior and women's programs.

 

 

For more information about the Carolinas Golf Association, follow @cgagolf1909 on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok, or visit our website www.carolinasgolf.org

 

 

 

 

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