The Northern California PGA (NCPGA) faced off against the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) in a trio of high-profile matches at Poppy Hills, showcasing some of the region’s finest professional and amateur golfers. The events included the 2024 Hanna-Wehrman Cup, the Staedler-Jetter Cup, and the NorCal Women’s Cup, each delivering thrilling competition and adding to the historic rivalry between the two organizations.
NCPGA Clinches Victory in the 2024 Hanna-Wehrman Cup
The Northern California PGA secured a decisive win in the biennial Hanna-Wehrman Cup, defeating the NCGA 36.5–23.5 on Tuesday at Poppy Hills.
After taking a commanding 18.5–11.5 lead in Foursomes and Four-Ball play, the NCPGA extended their dominance in Singles play, outscoring their amateur counterparts 18–12. The Singles matches were divided into three segments—Front 9, Back 9, and Overall 18—each segment worth one point.
This victory marks the NCPGA’s first Cup win since 2019, breaking the NCGA’s recent dominance, with the NCGA winning 13 of the last 16 competitions.
The NCPGA was represented by Tom Johnson, Brad Marek, David Putney, Ryan Williams, Scott De Borba, Josh Kelley, Chris Ingram, Raymond Otis, TJ Duncan, and Andrew Larkin, with Paul Wilcox serving as team captain.
NCPGA Fights Hard in the 32nd Staedler-Jetter Cup
The Northern California PGA put up a strong fight in the 32nd Staedler-Jetter Cup, ultimately falling to the NCGA 34–24 at Poppy Hills. Despite a closely contested first day, where the NCPGA trailed by only two points with an 11.5–9.5 score, they were outscored in Singles play on the final day. The NCGA players, aged 55 and over, edged out the NCPGA professionals, ages 50 and above, by a 22.5–14.5 margin in the Singles matches.
The Singles matches were played in three segments—Front 9, Back 9, and Overall 18—each worth one point. The NCPGA professionals showed resilience throughout, with notable performances by seasoned players. Though the team was unable to overcome the NCGA, their strong showing reflected their dedication and competitive spirit.
The NCPGA team, consisting of Scott Hoyt, Don Thames, John Hoag, Bing Bingham, Stuart Smith, Steve Hummel, Dave Carr, Doug Hansen, Lance Johnson, Chris Borrego, Mike Cook, Robert Poole, Todd Daniel Sr., and Dave DeLong, gave it their all but fell just short of victory.
Despite the setback, the NCPGA looks ahead to future competitions, determined to reclaim the Cup. The NCGA now leads the overall series, 18-10-4, having won the last five Staedler-Jetter Cup contests.
NCPGA Battles to a Tie in the 25th NorCal Women’s Cup
In the 25th NorCal Women’s Cup, the NCPGA competed fiercely, resulting in an 18-18 tie with the NCGA. As per the competition rules, the NCGA will retain the Cup due to the tie. The biennial event, first held in 1997, brings together the top twelve female competitors from the NCPGA/LPGA and the NCGA in a Solheim Cup-style format, showcasing top-level women’s golf in the region.
The NCPGA team put up a valiant fight throughout the competition, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and skill. The team was represented by Pat Hurst, Denise Bondurant, Joanne Lee, Louise Hall, Ashley Wood, Katherine Marren, Petra Cole-Lempa, Staci Cortez-Patterson, Mia Torres, Lulu Huang, Jooae Ye, and Shelley McGill-O’Keefe.
While the match ended in a tie, the NCGA extends their lead in the overall series to 20-6-1. The NCPGA team, however, showed immense promise and determination, making it clear that future contests will be just as closely contested.