2015 Crump Cup gets underway Thursday at Pine Valley

PINE VALLEY, N.J. — The most prestigious independent match play event in the United States begins Thursday as players gather at Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey for the Crump Cup. Michael Muehr is the defending champion of the championship flight, defeating Michael Castleforte in last year's final match. The win was Muehr's second Crump Cup title as the Potomac Falls, Va. resident was victorious in 2008, as well. Chip Lutz of Reading, Pa. is the defending Senior champion, having won in 2014 facing Buddy Marucci in the championship match. Both players were forced to beat defending champions in the semifinals as Lutz defeated 2011 Senior winner George Zahringer while Marucci knocked of 2009 Senior champ Pat Tallent, who had just recently won the U.S. Senior Amateur.