U.S. PGA Cup Team Captures Llandudno International Trophy

PGA professional Ryan Benzel of Bothell, Wash., displayed considerable aplomb on a hot Sunday afternoon at The Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga. The 28-year-old assistant professional at Seattle Golf Club overcame a three-hole deficit with birdies on his final two holes to claim a vital half-point and lift the United States to a thrilling 13½ to 12½ victory over Great Britain & Ireland in the 23rd PGA Cup.

The premier international event for PGA golf professionals lived up to its hype in serving as a showcase for the finest playing members of the PGA of America and the Professional Golfers' Association. The U.S., which had grabbed a 9-7 lead after two days of four-ball and foursomes competition, earned just the required 4½ points to reclaim the 18-pound Llandudno Trophy, which it surrendered two years ago in Ireland.

Benzel's halved match against England's Paul Wesselingh was joined by singles victories by Don Yrene of Scottsdale, Ariz., Chip Sullivan of Daleville, Va., Ron Philo Jr. of Amelia Island, Fla., and 50-year-old Chris Starkjohann of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., who got the honor of making the final point to clinch the cup. The United States maintained its perfect record on home soil, boosting its record to 10-0-2 since the PGA Cup originated in 1973, and now owns a 15-5-3 overall record.

"Last night when we put this (the pairings) together, I said to the guys that Chris Starkjohann is going to be the guy that wins this for us. He was at the right place at the right time to close it out," said an elated U.S. captain Roger Warren of Kiawah Island, S.C., who received an ice water bath from Philo on the 18th green. "I could look at every single player that played in this, and at some point they did something great to add to this. That's what team games are all about."

Warren then pointed to Benzel's match as perhaps the primary memory he will take with him from the week. "Benzel's match is what you think about years after this event," Warren said. "He showed great courage to win the 16th with a par, to birdie the 17th and then at 18, a hole where we have very little success, he really came through."

Benzel capped a storybook year in PGA of America-sanctioned competitions. He tied for second in June in his debut in the PGA Professional National Championship, and then was one of two PGA golf professionals to make the cut in the 89th PGA Championship in Tulsa. In his first PGA Cup appearance, Benzel was facing Wesselingh, a five-time PGA Cup competitor who had openly made it his mission to lead his team to the first victory in the series on U.S. soil.

"I saw guys behind me playing really, really well, so by no means did I want to lose on the front end," said Benzel, who refused to cave in, netting a par-4 on the 16th, knocking home an eight-foot birdie on the par-5 17th and then making the only birdie of the week on the treacherous, 485-yard 18th hole.

The U.S. had a 1-3-6 record in matches that reached the 18th hole prior to Benzel's arrival Sunday. From the middle of the fairway, he used what he called a "little butter 3-wood" from 240 yards away. He hit his approach to six feet and then made the putt for a halve. "It was a good number for a 3-wood and I smoked it. I was just trying to take into the center of the green, at the flag. If it was on the green anywhere, I'll take it," he said. "Where it came up was perfect.

"During the foursome matches, I was in the bunker. I knew what I needed to do was get it on the green somewhere. It's probably the most nervous I've ever been standing on that tee box (18) trying to drive that ball."

It was a devastating finish to an otherwise upbeat week for Great Britain & Ireland Captain Gary Alliss, who had spent months planning to erase years of heartbreak on American soil. "Some will be enormously proud, some will be disappointed but they've done their best, battled away to get the point they were in control of but there's not much else they can do," said Alliss. "But, they're golf pros; they know how cruel the game can be and they'll be back. Next week, they'll be teeing it up somewhere and this will be, I think, a happy memory for them.

"This has been the opportunity of a lifetime and the real highlight was just to be able to be here. And we've come out of the singles having won - that is fantastic, it really is. Perhaps if you look back to where we lost it we just gave ourselves exactly what it shows - a half a point too much to do to retain the trophy."

The depth of the Great Britain & Ireland team was never more underscored than in England's Danny Taylor stunning Mike Small, of Champaign, Ill., 4 and 3. Taylor, who hails from Swingers Golf Range in Lichfield, England, toppled the leading contender for this year's PGA Golf Professional Player of the Year honors. "I played well early, and couldn't keep up with the birdies he made," said Small. "I don't give a rip about myself, because we had so many other great guys on the team to carry us."

England's George Ryall finished 4-0-0, and praised the Americans on their play. "Their guys played some fantastic golf to win it, which is what the tournament is all about," said the professional from Players Club in Bristol, England. "I tried to do the best that I could and get as many points as I could, and I'm delighted I got as many as I did, but I'd rather have lost every game and won."

The U.S. victors had their own perspective on the final day's matches. "I really played the best I have ever played," said Yrene, the PGA head professional at The Golf Club of Scottsdale, a 2 and 1 winner over Ireland's John Dwyer, who is the reigning Glenmuir PGA Club Professional Champion. "Tim Thelen was our spiritual leader this week, having played in so many of these. He said when you get ahead, just press your pedal to the metal."

Sullivan, who won last June's PGA Professional National Championship, said that he was feeling much better after having put extra pressure on himself. He held up well, considering a 6-up lead after nine holes and finished with a 5 and 4 victory over James Whatley. "I drove it well and I was just riding the wave," said Sullivan. "There really isn't anything that you can do in your own Section to prepare you for this. You're representing your country, all the 28,000 members of The PGA of America and you want to perform to your best. After my first loss on Friday, I had a sick feeling inside. Today, I found my swing."

Philo, the 2006 PGA Professional National Champion, said he got a swing tip from teammate Lee Rinker of Jupiter, Fla., prior to the final day's competition. He went on to a 3 and 2 victory over England's Michael Nesbit. "It started a little ugly, but we were able to get the job done," said Philo. "It deteriorated for me for awhile. I was happy to have that swing tip from Lee on alignment that really helped."

Starkjohann, who had qualified for the 2008 PGA Professional National Championship on Wednesday by tying for sixth in the Southern California PGA Section Championship, found himself in position for the showcase finale, with all his teammates crowded near the 15th green. Starkjohann closed out Duncan Muscroft of Padova, Italy, a native Englishman, 4 and 3. "I really had a great feeling today when things started and I was very happy to be here when it counted," said Starkjohann. "I was able to get my putting down and felt much better about my swing. It's a great feeling to be here in this."

Jon Bevan of Weymouth, England, who competed in this year's British Open, held on to defeat four-time U.S. Cup veteran Tim Thelen of College Station, Texas, 1-up. "We have lost to a great team, but we are a great team, too, and it came down to a few small breaks," said Bevan. "It was two solid, heavyweight teams throwing a lot of shots and a lot of birdies at each other and someone's got to come out as the loser - it stinks."

The PGA Cup will mark its 24th renewal in September 2009 at The Carrick at the De Vere Deluxe Resort in Loch Lomond, Scotland. During his address at the closing ceremonies, Alliss turned to Warren before extending his hand and said, "Roger, you said that you would break my heart this week, and you bloody well did."

Warren responded with praising the Great Britain & Ireland Team and Alliss. "The by-product of this competition is what you gain by spending time with the competitors from both our team and those of Great Britain & Ireland. You gain pride, and you gain respect for the game of golf and for your fellow teammates. I can assure you that our Association and The Professional Golfers' Association through competition like this are forever linked together."