Federal Way, Wash. The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) has selected five amateurs and five senior amateurs to represent the WSGA in the 64th Hudson Cup and 21st Senior Hudson Cup Matches, to be held at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore, Wash. from October 25-26.

In cooperation with the Oregon Golf Association (OGA), the WSGA and OGA selected a total of 10 amateurs and 10 senior amateurs to compete against the professionals. Of the 10 players in each category, five represent the OGA and five represent the WSGA. Amateur team members are selected based on performance points earned through each respective amateur golf association. The Pacific Northwest Section PGA also selects their professional team members based on performance points earned throughout the season.

Amateurs selected to represent the WSGA are Michael Haack of Bellevue, Dylan Maine of Spokane, Sean Packer of Lake Tapps, Steve Rude of Graham and Nick Varelia of Kent. The captain of the amateur team is Scott Alexander.

Senior amateurs representing the WSGA are Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Kent Brown of Colville, Keith Crimp of Ellensburg , Tom Phillips of Seattle and Doug Potter of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The captain of the senior amateur team is Jerry Fehr.

Last year at Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Ore., the amateur team beat the professionals 10 ½ to 9 ½ to claim the 63rd Hudson Cup, their first victory since 1978. The professionals mounted a charge in singles play after falling behind 6 ½ to 3 ½ on the first day of foursome and four-ball play, earning wins in five of the first seven matches to take a 9 to 8 lead with three matches left on the course. The amateurs responded with key victories by Bill Winter (3&1) and Erik Hanson (1up) to regain the lead. A half point from Sean Packer in the final match sealed the amateur triumph. The Larry Lamberger Award was awarded to Corey Prugh, while the Chuck Congdon Award went to Bill Winter.

In the 20th Senior Hudson Cup, the professionals earned a narrow victory against the amateurs with a two-day point total of 10 ½ to 9 ½. The professionals took a two point lead into the singles matches and held off the late push by the amateurs. Jeff Fought’s 3 & 1 victory over Pat O’Donnell clinched the win for the professionals. Steve Prugh won the Bob McKendrick Award, while the Bill Eggers Award was presented to Kent Brown.

In 1949, two PGA Professionals from Oregon, Larry Lamberger and Al Zimmerman, thought the Pacific Northwest Section PGA should pay tribute to Robert A. Hudson, Sr., a successful businessman from Portland who is renowned in the golf world as the savior of the Ryder Cup Matches for resurrecting the competition just two years after World War II. Because of Hudson’s generosity, the Ryder Cup was restored in 1947 at Portland Golf Club after Hudson came forward and covered most of the Ryder Cup tab, including the cost of the British team to come to the United States.

The first Hudson Cup matches were held at Portland Golf Club in 1949. The format was patterned after the Ryder Cup, with 36-hole foursome matches the first day and 36-hole singles the second day. The professionals, led by Bud Ward, Stan Leonard and Chuck Congdon, posted a 12 ½ to 2 ½ victory. When Hudson learned of the matches, he immediately insisted on footing the bill, and continued to do so through 1972. Today, the Pacific Northwest Section PGA is assisted by funds contributed by the Washington State Golf Association, the Oregon Golf Association, and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

The format was changed in 1966 when the foursome matches were shortened to 18-holes and four-ball competition was added for the first afternoon. Second day singles, at 18-holes, complete the event, with a total of 20 points available. In 1992, the Senior Hudson Cup Matches were added. It features the leading senior amateur players against the senior PGA Professionals.

Professional team captains are appointed by the President of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA, and amateur team captains are appointed by the OGA and WSGA.

For more information on the history of the Hudson Cup Matches, including past results, please visit http://www.pnwpga.com/hudson_cup.htm

For a list of accomplishments of the WSGA’s selections, visit www.thewsga.org. Here is a complete playing roster of the upcoming Hudson Cup Matches:

64th HUDSON CUP MATCHES

21st SENIOR HUDSON CUP MATCHES