Michigan Defends Kelly Cup
By Charles Henry
USGTF Level III Member, Caseville, Michigan

Golf teachers from Michigan won another closely contested series of “Ryder Cup-like” matches with the neighboring Ontario golf teachers last fall at Gateway Golf Club in suburban Detroit. The 5th annual Kelly Cup will again be held at Gateway GC next September in honor of USGTF golf teacher Thomas Kelly, who died suddenly in 2003.

The 2007 matches were even at four points apiece going into the second and final day of competition. Each team won two points in fourball matches and foursome matches.

On the second day, Team Michigan built a slim one-point lead after individual match play on the front nine. On the back nine, the individual Stableford matches also were very tight. Michigan needed a split in the final pairing to hang on to the coveted Cup. With all of the participants and many spouses watching on the hill overlooking the 18th green, George Paul won his match for Michigan and secured the two-point victory, 14-12.

“Our guys played solid golf both days,” said Jack Black, Michigan’s captain, “and so did the Canadians. George Paul, Brian Gabbeart, and Charlie Henry all won three of their four matches.”

But, no one played as inspired as former captain and Ontario tour director Carl Abel. He won three of his four matches and played even-par golf on the final day to edge Ken Niblock for two points in individual matches. Tom Farlow, Paul Kelly (no relation to Thomas), and Ron Christner also won three points for Ontario.

The Michigan team included Mark Widman, Jim Helmke, Mark Smith, Joel Michaels, Dave Skilton,  Brian Harnos, Black, Paul, Henry, Gabbeart and Niblock. Team Ontario was captained by Pete Willems. Other Ontario team members were Gilles Charbonneau, John Morache, Bill Green, Kristian Kasemets, Farlow, Kelly, Abel and Christner.

Barbara Kelly, Thomas Kelly’s widow, and her sons Thomas Jr. and Edward hosted a dinner at her home on Sunday following the first round. Barbara, along with other Kelly family members, presented the Kelly Cup to captain Jack Black after the final matches were completed and tabulated.

The 2008 Kelly Cup will be held Sunday, September 14, and Monday, September 15, at Gateway GC, the home course of Thomas Kelly and his widow Barbara. The teams will be captained by Mark Widman (Michigan) and Ron Christner (Ontario). The squads can be up to 20 players per side. Contestants must play in at least one regular season Michigan/Ontario Golf Teachers Tour event held during the year. The tour, in its 9th season, draws between 15-25 players from the upper Midwest and Canada. For more information, please contact Carl Abel, Ontario tour director (cabelusgtf@auracom.com) or Charlie Henry, Michigan tour director (clh3@avci.net).

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