Two veteran teams will face off February 2-3 at the Ponte Vedra Plantation for the 35th Underwood Cupan annual match-play event between Northern Chapter PGA professionals and First Coast amateurs.
Captains Dean Grunewald of the professional team and Steve Carter of the amateur team will have three rookies each on its 12-player squads as Cup matches will be played outside of Duval County for the first time in history. It was at Timuquana Country Club from 1999 to 2022, San Jose Country Club in 2023 and 2024 and Deerwood Country Club in 2025.
Steve Carter and Chase Baldwin (right) talk with professional caddy Boots Farley after an Underwood Cup four-way match at Deerwood Country Club on February 2, 2025. Carter is the captain of the amateur team during the 2026 Underwood Cup on February 2-3 at Ponte Vedra Plantation.
The Amateurs won 14-10 last year, after the pros won the event two years in a row. The Amateurs hold an 18-13-3 lead.
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New professional players will be Jarrod Barsamian Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Austin Hill of Timuquana and Andrew Lanahan from the PGA Tour Performance Center.
Amateurs making their debut are Tyler Gulliksen by Amélia National, Ty Capps from the Dunes Hammock Club And Graham Nichols of Timuquana.
Will also be part of the professional team Clint Avret of the southeast turf supply, Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth from San Jose, Hayes Farley from San Jose, Rob Lee from the Westside Golf Center, Sydney Mattiace from the Sawgrass Country Club, Bobby Newberry from Timuquana, PJ Politan from GreatLIFE Golf, Aaron Russell of Sawgrass and Josh Wolfe of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.
In the amateur team are Chase Baldwin from Deerwood, Jordan Batchelor from Deerwood, Jeff Dennis from TPC Sawgrass, Sam Giese from Timuquana, Jeff Dore from Jacksonville Beach, Lance LaCombe from Fleming Island, Andrew Morris St. Johns Golf and Country Club, Matt Sexton from San Jose and Mike Smith from TPC Sawgrass.
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Matt Hips from the World Golf Village will help Grunewald. Former amateur captain Michael Del Rocco of San Jose will assist Carter, who has been an amateur player for 25 years and is serving as captain for the third time.
Players will compete in six four-ball matches on the morning of February 2 and six four-ball matches in the afternoon, followed by 12 singles matches on February 3.
JAGA publishes 2026 calendar
The Jacksonville Area Golf Association has released its 2026 schedule which begins on the 10th Amateur of the First Coast January 17-19 at Deerwood Country Club and ends with the Family Championship on Dec. 19 at the Jacksonville Beach Golf Club.
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There are 11 championships managed by JAGA or with the support of the association. They include match play, four-ball and stroke play events for men, women, seniors and juniors.
The important regional championships are the JAGA Senior Championship May 3-5 at Stillwater Golf and Country Club; THE JAGA AmateurJuly 19-21 at Sawgrass Country Club; and the Female amateur from the Première Côte July 20-22 at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club.
Information about tournaments and how to participate can be found at jaxareagolf.org.
Derek Sprague leaves the PGA
Former General Manager of TPC Sawgrass Derek Sprague resigned as CEO of the PGA of America, citing family concerns over the care of his mother and mother-in-law.
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Sprague took over the PGA in 2024. He has been a member of the PGA since 1993 and served as president of the association from 2014 to 2016. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2019.
Sprague was the Director General of TPC from 2018 to 2024, helping to oversee the transition from The Players Championship from March to May and guide the club through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Serving as CEO of the PGA of America over the past year has been an incredible honor, and I will always be grateful for the trust the Board of Directors has placed in me and thank them for their understanding,” Sprague said in a statement. “I would also like to thank our staff for their tireless dedication. Their passion and commitment inspire me, and I know that the Association will continue to thrive in pursuing its proud mission of serving our members and growing the sport.
Senior Amateur Event Coming to the First Coast
The Women’s Southern Golf Association will play its 41st WSGA Senior Championship Oct. 5-7 at King & Bear. The 54-hole stroke play event will feature senior and super-senior divisions and players will be able to earn World Amateur Golf points. … Bill Hargrove matched his age of 87 on Jan. 7 in San Jose and had a bonus: a hole-in-one at No. 12. He used a pitching wedge at 87 yards. … Three First Coast players finished in the top five at the Florida State Golf Association’s inaugural Winter Series event at Innisbrook Resort Island Course. Brian King of Fernandina Beach (155) finished second behind Adam Creighton of the Trinity (149), Billy Lodise de Saint-Augustin (156) finished third and Steve Pitts from Ponte Vedra Beach (157) finished fourth. Chuck Kirk of Middleburg (161) tied for 10th.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Veteran teams will meet at Plantation at Ponte Vedra in the Underwood Cup
