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Highlands Today

Pros Cruise To Ryder Cup

Mark Pinson, Highlands Today

The professionals are all smiles after winning the Highlands County Ryder Cup competition over the weekend at Sun 'N Lake Country Club.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

Published: November 18, 2008

SEBRING - With talent and experience up and down their lineup, the professionals took the early lead and never looked back in winning the annual Highlands County Ryder Cup competition against the amateurs over the weekend at Sun 'N Lake Country Club.

The format, which pits the local professionals against the top amateurs in Highlands County, is a popular event which the amateurs dominated in the early years.

But the pros won this year by a score of 15-8 for their second straight win to trim their deficit to 9-5 in the overall series.

"We played well all weekend," said Sun 'N Lake assistant professional and Ryder Cup captain Andy Kesling. "We got the early lead in the best-ball and alternate-shot matches on Saturday and that made it a lot easier heading into the singles matches.

"We only had to win five of the twelve to retain the cup and we managed to do that against a solid amateur team."

Leading by three points heading into Sunday's singles matches, the pros got off to a quick start in the cool and blustery conditions as Placid Lakes pro Shane Ward defeated Mike Moore 5 and 4, while Val Patarini edged amateur Mike Shawver 3 and 1.

The amateurs rallied as Randy Proctor slipped past Jason Laman 2 and 1 and Dick Butler knocked off Kesling 1-up.

Frank Gugleilmi beat pro Bill Newman 4 and 2 and Dana Harris defeated pro Mike Lamere 4 and 3.

The pros squelched any hopes of a comeback as Cory Decoteau beat amateur Mike Wells 2 and 1 and Marty O'Hora slipped past amateur captain Mike Browning 3 and 2.

Harder Hall pro John Phillips edged Jim Casey 2 and 1, John Dean beat amateur Gary Williams 5 and 4, Dave Schumaker held on against amateur Jefff Gaddy 2 and 1 and River Greens pro Jason Beatty defeated Dan Eslinger 3 and 1.

"I'm really proud to be part of the pro team and it means a lot to win the Ryder Cup again," said Kesling. "I take my hats off to the amateurs because they battled us every step of the way.

"It was a great weekend of golf and it was a pleasure to be a part of this event. "I know there are a lot of really good amateurs that didn't play in the event this year and we hope to make a few changes for next year's competition so that we get the best players involved."

Browning echoed those same sentiments.

"The pros played like pros and I'm really proud of the amateur team because we played as hard as possible but came up a little short," the amateur captain said. "It's a shame that we can't get some of the top-grade amateurs to try and qualify for this event.

"Maybe then we could give the pros a run for their money because they are getting stronger and we're having a hard time keeping up with them."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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