Golf Association of Philadelphia announces 2008 Compher Cup teamThe Golf Association of Philadelphia announced its 2008 Compher Cup Matches team today.The 46th annual matches, pitting Philadelphia against the New Jersey State Golf Association, are set for April 21 at Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, N.J. To date, the Golf Association of Philadelphia leads the series 30–11-–4.
“It’s an honor with all the good players in the section just to be fortunate enough to play on the team,” said Slonis, 39, of Sewell, N.J. “Pine Valley’s a wonderful place and it’s great that it is willing to host events like the Comper Cup. I’m sure everyone is gearing their games up to play there.” Each association fields a 12-man team with players simultaneously competing in a singles match and four-ball match. There are a total of 18 possible points. Matches that end in a tie result in a half point for the team. In addition to Slonis, returning to the Compher Cup Matches for Philadelphia are (appearances in parentheses): Brian Gillespie of St. Davids GC (seventh); Chris Lange of Overbrook GC (23rd); Michael McDermott of Merion Golf Club (fifth), the William Hyndman, III Player of the Year; Michael Moffat of Commonwealth National GC (third) and Doug Zelner of Spring Ford CC (fifth). The newcomers to the Compher Cup Matches are Philip Arouca of Philadelphia Publinks GA; Mark Miller of Yardley CC; John Michael Pelet of Wyncote GC; Robert Robertson of Sunnybrook GC, the Junior Player of the Year; Stephen Seiden of Concord CC and Raymond Thompson of Overbrook GC, the Senior Player of the Year. No matter the victor, the star of the Compher Cup Matches will most definitely be the golf course. “A lot of places you hear that the golf course is great and it doesn’t live up to the hype. Not with Pine Valley. It is that good. It’s a very fair golf course,” said Slonis. “If you are playing well, you can shoot a good score but you have to play very well. The margins between great shots and recording a double bogey are thin on every hole. You won’t find that on a lot of golf courses.” Added Moffat who said he has competed at Pine Valley in about seven or eight rounds. “I relish the opportunity to play Pine Valley and in the Compher Cup and to combine the two makes it even sweeter. It should be awesome.” Last year, Team Philadelphia defeated New Jersey at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J. For Pine Valley Golf Club, this is its third time hosting the Compher Cup. Pine Valley GC held the event in 1992 and 1996. In both of those years, Philadelphia captured victories. The Golf Association of Philadelphia has captured the last two meetings with its Jersey counterparts and 10 of the past 11. Fred Compher, a former New Jersey State Golf Association president, conceived the neighborhood matches after leaving his post in 1959. Compher donated a silver trophy that year earmarked for such a rivalry. In 1961, association representatives Bob Jacobson of New Jersey and Richard Ollmah of GAP completed the details. In 1962, the first Compher Cup matches took place. That year, the NJSGA side forged a 5–1 lead in the morning foursomes competitions and held serve in the afternoon singles matches for an 11½–6½ victory. After the New Jersey victory, Compher himself, who was known at the time as the most successful NJSGA president in its history, presented the trophy “to promote golf between the groups.” For a year-by-year history and individual player records, please go to www.gapgolf.org.
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A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
