JACKSON, NJ (April 27, 2016) - Michael Stamberger of
Spring Lake, Ron Vannelli of Forsgate and Steve
Zychowski of Mendham won individual matches for the
team representing the New Jersey State Golf
Association, but the Golf Association of Philadelphia
ruled the day in the 55th Compher Cup matches on
Wednesday, April 27, the Metedeconk National Golf Club
in Jackson.
GAP, which hosted the event, defeated NJSGA, 14-
4, for its biggest win since a decisive 15.5-2.5 victory in
2000. The widest margin was 16-2 by GAP in 1982.
GAP leads the series, 36-13-5. The Compher Cup
began in 1962 with the NJSGA winning at Hollywood
G.C. in Deal. The 2005 event was canceled due to
weather.
Stamberger defeated former NJSGA Amateur
champion Benjamin Smith of Huntingdon Valley, 6 and
5; Vannelli, the NJSGA captain, bested Bill Jeremiah of
Bidermann, 4 and 3, and Zychowski defeated David
West of Applecross, 2 up. Stamberger and partner Nick
Desai of Baltusrol earned a team point with a 1 up
victory over Smith and Patrick Ross of Hunstville.
The squads compete annually as 12-man teams. In
Compher Cup play, all 12 players from each side square
off in individual matches and simultaneously in four-ball
matches for a total of 18 points at stake.
This year’s NJSGA squad was captained by Vannelli,
one of six players returning from the 2015 team. Other
returnees include Jason Bataille of Metedeconk National,
Desai, Brian Komline of Black Oak, Stamberger and
Zychowski.
The other six team members are Michael Brown of
Pennsauken, Bill Charpek of Navesink, Matt Finger of
Darlington, Mike Hyland of Little Mill, Peter Kozubal of
Fox Hollow and Trevor Randolph of Arcola.
All except Brown, Kozubal and Randolph have
previously played in Compher Cup matches. Vannelli
leads the way, making his 18th appearance, followed by
Komline (10), Stamberger (9), Charpek (8), Finger (4),
Desai (3), Zychowski (3), Bataille (2) and Hyland (2).
Bob Housen of Manasquan River, winner of six
State Amateurs and 32-time Compher Cup participant,
served as honorary captain for the NJSGA.
“Having the 55th Compher Cup matches here at
Metedeconk National is a feather in our cap. We host
many high level championships here, including the Ivy
League men’s championship, the Metedeconk
Invitational and in 2017, the NJSGA State Open, and
having the Compher Cup here can only enhance our
profile,” said Bob Lerner, Metedeconk National golf
chairman.
In 2015, the GAP and the NJSGA met in the 54th
Compher Cup matches, with the teams battling to an 9-
9 draw at Bayonne Golf Club. The draw enabled GAP to
retain the Cup, which it had won the previous year at
Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia, 9-1/2 – 8-1/2.
In 2015 at Bayonne, Dan Levinson of Bayonne and
Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge comprised the final
group and came home with all three points needed to
help the NJSGA attain the draw vs. GAP. Other
individual winners for NJSGA were two-time State
Amateur champion Stamberger, Zychowski,. Desai and
Stephen Ellis of Toms River, a Compher Cup rookie.
Desai and Ryan Chin of Arcola won their Four-Ball
match, 2 and 1.
The Compher Matches are named for Frederic M.
Compher, who donated a silver cup in 1959, leading to
the start of competition in 1962 between the two
associations. The teams play simultaneous Four-Ball
and Singles matches.
In 2013 at Galloway National, the NJSGA defeated
GAP, 10.5 to 7.5, for its first victory since 2009.
Fred Compher, a former New Jersey State Golf
Association president, conceived the neighborhood
matches after leaving his post in 1959. Compher
donated a silver trophy that year earmarked for such a
rivalry.
The inaugural Compher up matches took place in
1962 with the NJSGA claiming an 11.5-6.5 victory.
After the New Jersey victory, Compher, who was
known at the time as the most innovative NJSGA
president in its history, presented the trophy “to
promote golf between the groups.”
In 1961, association representatives Bob Jacobson
of New Jersey and Richard Ollmah of GAP completed the
details. In 1962, the first Compher Cup matches took
place. That year, the NJSGA side forged a 5–1 lead in
the morning foursomes’ competitions and held serve in
the afternoon singles matches for an 11.5-6.5 victory.
After New Jersey’s victory, Compher, who was
known at the time as the most successful NJSGA
president in its history, presented the trophy “to
promote golf between the groups.”
View results for Compher Cup