After a lengthy hiatus caused by the pandemic, the Concession Cup is set to resume.
The event, which began in 2014 as a biennial contest, takes six mid-amateurs and six senior ams from both the U.S. and Europe to face one another in a Ryder Cup-like format. The first three editions were all lopsided affairs as the Americans dominated an overmatched Great Britain and Ireland squad; however, continental Europe has been added to the event in an effort to create a more level playing field.
The underdogs will also be at home for the first time, as the matches are taking place Nov. 16-19 at Real Club Valderrama in Spain. The first three iterations of the Concession Cup were all played at the Concession Club in Bradenton, Florida, which will host again in 2024 when women will be added to the event for the first time.
The American side, captained by Danny Yates, will be strong once again. U.S. Senior Am winner Rusty Strawn and 2023 Walker Cup captain Mike McCoy will lead a senior contingent rounded out by Robert Funk, Bob Royak, Matthew Sughrue and Doug Hanzel. On the mid-am side, Joe Deraney, Evan Beck, Tug Maude, Matt Mattare, Scott Turner and Brad Nurski will represent the stars and stripes. Alan Fadel, Bryan Norton and Robert Gerwin will serve as assistant captains.
“Taking this event overseas was an important step,” said Fadel, also the Amateur Golf Alliance president. “We are excited about the inclusion of the European players, our host Valderrama and the promotion of the amateur game around the world.”
The European side appears far more formidable than previous GB&I teams. That starts with U.S. Mid-Am winner Matthew McClean and runner-up Hugh Foley, the two Irishmen who stole the show at Erin Hills last month. Caolan Rafferty (Ireland), Gregoire Schoeb (France), Leon Breimer (Germany) and Moises Cobo (Spain) are the four other mid-ams featured. The senior ams will be Stephen Jensen (England), Rupert Kellock (England), Trevor Foster (England), Mattias Pernheden (Sweden), Martin Birkholz (Germany) and Jody Fanagan (Ireland).
The team is captained by Tore Sviland of Norway. Francois Illouz (France), Gianluca Bolla (Italy) and James Bunch (Scotland) will be the assistant captains.
Chris Kamin and Danny Licursi shot a final-round 65 on Saturday to win the mid-amateur division of the 58th John R. Williams Four-Ball at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y.
The Arizona duo opened with a 65 on Oak Hill’s West Course before going 68-65 on the East Course (12-under 198) to take the title by four strokes over local New Yorkers Kyle Downey and Brandon Grzywacz.
Kamin is one of the top mid-ams from Arizona, having won both the Arizona Stroke Play and Arizona Mid-Am titles earlier this year. He also qualified for this year’s U.S. Amateur and nearly made the match-play cut. Licursi, a former pro who had a handful of Korn Ferry Tour starts, has a lower amateur profile but did win the Southern California Four-Ball in 2020.
The senior amateur division went to two of the most recognizable faces in the amateur game as Concession Cup teammates Royak and Hanzel shot 8-under 205 to win by three strokes. The Georgians opened with a 65 on the West Course and had the whole field chasing them the rest of the way.
Hanzel has been on fire the past few months. He won the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame, finished runner-up to Strawn in the U.S. Senior Amateur, won the Society of Seniors National Super Senior Amateur and won the Georgia Senior Championship as well.
Royak has also been stellar in 2022, winning the Coleman’s senior division and registering nine other top-10 finishes. He lost to Strawn in the semifinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur.
RESULTS
Sean Fairholm