Relief, jubilation and satisfaction could all be used to describe the feelings shared by the winning professional team from the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the 32nd Underwood Cup matches at San Jose Country Club.
After claiming the Cup only once in the previous 12 Cup matches (2016) against their amateur counterparts, the professionals were long overdue. A squad featuring several new faces met the challenge this year garnering a 14½ to 9½ victory with the difference being strong play in the concluding singles matches. The final score was identical to the defeat the pros suffered last January.
Played over two days at the 1925 Donald Ross-design, the Monday morning four-ball and afternoon foursome matches both wound up tied 3-3. The 6-6 score set the stage for some Tuesday drama.
The amateurs jumped out to a quick lead, with Jeff Golden and Duke Butler IV capturing convincing 5-and-4 and 6-and-5 victories, respectively. An Aaron Russell-Jacob Posze standoff added a half point to the amateur edge. But the tide would then turn as Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth recorded six birdies to take out Toby Ragland 3-and-1 in the third match.
More dominoes would fall the professionals’ way as they racked up wins in matches 5 through 9, enough to claim the elusive Underwood Cup. Posting wins during this stretch were Rob Lee (3-and-2), Taylor Davis (7-and-6), Josh Wolfe (2 up), Jennifer Borocz (5-and-4) and Will Rehberg (2-and-1).
The clinching shot will go down in Underwood Cup lore. With his opponent, Nate Mosby, eyeing a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th hole, Will Rehberg splashed one out of the greenside bunker and into the hole for an eagle, setting off a tumultuous celebration from his spectating captains, teammates and caddies. The Cup was decide, and the Professionals’ long dry spell was finally over.
New to the professional team this year were Borocz, Davis, Lee and Mitchell Haley. Borocz won all three of her matches in a sparkling debut.
Connelly-Eiswerth had perhaps the sharpest round in the singles matches, recording six birdies against one bogey in her 17 holes of play. She missed just one green, No. 2, by about 10 feet, making life tough for her opponent, Ragland.
The teams were captained by Tim Peterson (professionals) and Steve Carter (amateurs) for the second year in a row. Both had played in 23 previous Underwood Cups. Mike Broderick (professionals) and Michael Del Rocco (amateurs) returned to serve in assistant captains’ roles as well. Carter became a playing captain when Paul Tesori was forced to pull out of the competition.
The amateurs’ lead is now 17-12-3.
The Underwood Cup mirrors the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. It features the elite players among Northeast Florida PGA professional and amateur golfers.
The professionals’ strongest run in the Underwood Cup was in its early stages when they won the first six playings of the prestigious event that consists of six fourballs, six foursomes and 12 singles matches over two days.
Launched in 1992, the first 30 Underwood Cups were contested at Timuquana Country Club before moving to San Jose in 2022 and ’23. The 2024 venue has not been announced.
Underwood Jewelers, with Underwood President Clayton Bromberg serving as honorary starter and host of the post-event luncheon and awards ceremony, is the title partner and has been all 32 years.
The matches are conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA and supported by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) and Florida State Golf Association (FSGA).
Other Underwood Cup partners are Cutter & Buck, Devant & Pukka/Chandler Altman, Club Car/Danny Eckles, Don Poag, and Chip Holcombe Brands.
The teams were comprised of the following captains and players:
Amateur team: Steve Carter, TPC Sawgrass; Mike Del Rocco, San Jose CC; Duke Butler IV, TPC Sawgrass; Steve Carter, Sawgrass G&CC; Jeff Golden, Jax Beach GC; Chris Henderson, San Jose CC; Kirk Irvin, St. Johns G&CC; Kevin McDonald, Eagle Harbor GC; Nate Mosby, Windsor Parke GC; Jacob Posze, Queen’s Harbour Y&CC; Toby Ragland, San Jose CC; Len Schonfeld III, unattached; Michael Smith, TPC Sawgrass; and Mark Spencer, Eagle Landing GC.
Professional team: Tim Peterson, PGA Life Member; Mike Broderick, Deerwood CC; Jennifer Borocz, North Florida Section; Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth, Eagle Harbor GC; Taylor Davis, Timuquana CC; Jake Etherton, World Golf Village; Hayes Farley, San Jose CC; Mitchell Haley, Deerwood CC; Jeff Hanson, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club; Gerry James, The Palencia Club; Rob Lee, Westside Golf Center; Will Rehberg, Deerwood CC; Aaron Russell, Sawgrass CC; and Josh Wolfe, San Jose CC.
