1997 Inaugural Tournament Results

Team Orange "Squeezes" by Team LA To Take The 1997 Ronin Ryder Cup!!!

In a battle of epic proportions, the team from Orange County arrived home with the Cup in hand. After the three day marathon of golf, golf and finally more golf, OC tallied a 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 point victory. A sweep of the individual play by OC led their suprising victory.

It couldn't have been more exciting or scripted any better with the outcome undecided until the final hole on the final day of competition. LA held a 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 point lead entering the final day at TPC at the Canyons. The Cup had LA written all over it, but spectacular play by the gritty OC team saved the day. They swept the remaining three matches to take the inaudural Ronin Ryder Cup.

The weather was spectacular after a blustery first day of competition. Blue skies and calm winds were made to order.

Team play was dominated by LA. They jumped into a 2 - 0 lead after the first day of 2-man better ball. On the Sun Mountain course at Paiute, the first match involved LA's members, Tom and Donald versus Ken and Mitch. The lead changed hands 3 times before LA wrested the lead for good on the 17th hole. The final result was 1-up LA.

The second match of Day 1, Mel and Grant squared off against Mark and Craig. It was painful still to this day to see Craig swing his clubs. Despite his back, Team Orange kept it close. The net result 2-up LA.

Day Two started at Snow Mountain course with a 2-man scramble. Grant and Tom faced Mark and Ken. Team Orange scored their first points of the contest. A tally of 5 & 4 finished off the men from LA.

Donald and Mel squared off against Mitch and Craig. After a torrid start, LA hung on to post a 2 & 1 win. This set up the exciting finish for the third day.

Fighting for survival, Team Orange send out Ken to meet Grant in the singles competition. Grant jumped out to an early lead, but faltered in the middle to finish down 5 & 4.

Craigs's back finally took over and was forced to withdraw from the final day of competition. LA offered a draw and a 1/2 point, this would turn out to be the final margin of victory.

The final foursome matched Mel versus Mark and Donald versus Mitch. Mitch never let go of his early lead and coasted to a 2 & 1 victory. In the most exciting match of the tournament, Mark made a clutch par saving on 18 to sweep Team Orange to the glorious Cup. In all the Ryder Cup event turned out to be everything it was anticipated it would be. Friendly and intense competition with a little bit of gambling made the experience well worth the time invested. It will be hard to match the inaugural Cup, but it should be fun trying.