When the annual spring competition between the area’s top amateurs and Gateway Section professionals was reignited, many questioned whether or not the amateurs could compete. The Amateurs answered that question the very first year defeating the Gateway Section professionals, but since then it’s turned once again into a lopsided affair.
While the individual matches were competitive, the overall outcome has favored the Pro’s as of late. All that being said, the Amateurs are looking to validate their win of several years ago this year at The Country Club of St. Albans.
Starting the day with a slim 1 point lead, the Amateurs have held their own in the morning Foursomes matches. Fourteen points remain up for grabs, half of the total allotment, in the afternoon Singles matches. Leading 8 – 6, the Amateurs need 6 1/2 points to recapture the Gateway Cup.
Andy Frost and Andy Fogarty bounced back from a 5&4 defeat yesterday to earn a half point against a very strong duo of JC Anderson and Brian Fogt of the Gateway Section. A similar outcome was realized in the Eli Grant / Brett Meeske vs. Ryan Roy / Gideon Smith match.
Jeff Johnson and Chad Niezing remain perfect for the weekend after earning another point with a 1up victory over Jeff Whitfield and Nash Haxel.
Patrick Britt and Joe Migdal made easy work of the Gateway Section’s Ty Zimmerman and Scott Brauer. Both Zimmerman and Brauer will be looking to earn their first points this afternoon in Singles competition.
Phil Caravia and Scott Edwards defeated Brett Moomey and JD Auping, 3&1 in their match. Moomey and Auping will also be looking to earn their first points this afternoon.
St. Albans very own, Rob Sedorcek and Bellerive’s, Mike Tucker defeated arguably the Amateurs strongest pairing of Ted Moloney and Skip Berkmeyer, 3&1 to earn the first full point for the Gateway Section on Monday.
Fortunately for the Gateway Section, Mike Suhre and Bob Gaus also delivered with a resounding 6&4 victory over Brevin Giebler and Tom Barry. Suhre will be looking to remain perfect for the weekend in his Singles match against Phil Caravia this afternoon.
Singles pairings can be found at the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association website – HERE.
Several interesting match ups could ultimately decide the outcome of the 2013 Gateway Cup Matches. The second match of the day has a very Norwood Hills Country Club flavor as Amateur Patrick Britt will face Ryan Roy.
Past Metropolitan Amateur Champion, Eli Grant will get the pleasure of playing one of the Section’s hottest players in JC Anderson. Anderson will be teeing up in just a few weeks at the Sr. PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club.
Scott Edwards and Jeff Whitfield are very familiar with each other from their days at Persimmon Woods and are off in the 6th match of the afternoon.
In a battle of the East Side, Phil Caravia will get a chance for a little revenge after losing his first round Four-Ball to a team that included Mike Suhre in Match #13.
The final match of the afternoon offers a look we’ve seen many times before at The Country Club of St. Albans. Skip Berkmeyer and Bob Gaus have shared many a memory down the stretch of the Metropolitan Open Championship that is contested on the Lewis and Clark course at St. Albans. Berkmeyer and Gaus are scheduled to tee it up at 2:10pm in the final pairing.
