The 2011 Gentlemen's Cup
Atlanta, Georgia
October 7 & 8
Tie: Nobles (3) - Lords (3)
Everything big begins with something small. In the case of The Gentlemen's Cup, what is now a globally established test of skill began with just a handful of golfers competing over two days outside of Atlanta. The first matches couldn't even fill two tee times.
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Modeled after the Old Boy's Cup (hat tip to Will Byrum), The Gentlemen's Cup chose to follow Ryder Cup style golf - dividing players into two teams according not to nationality but skill level - to create the best possible matchups.
While the organizers of the G-Cup have often been accused of setting up favorable matches for the Lords, no one could argue that in 2011 - it was still tied after 39 holes of golf!
October 7, 2011 - Scramble
Stone Mountain Golf Club - Lakemont
(2 points per match)
Score at the end of Day 1: Lords 2 - Nobles 0
The first ever round of The Gentlemen's Cup was played on the Lakemont Course at Stone Mountain Golf Club. With only six players able to make the Friday tee, time the teams opted for a 3 on 3 scramble format.
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Playing in two groups back to back, each team took pains to mentally intimidate the other. Legend has it that Connor's booming voice could be heard a full whole behind as the Lords dropped a birdie on the 500-yard par five 9th.
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Specific records of this day are scarce, but the Lords secured a win to score the first two points and head into the second day riding an emotional high.
October 8, 2011 - Singles
Stone Mountain Golf Club - Stonemont
(1 point per match)
Score at the end of Day 2: Nobles 3 - Lords 3
The Stonemont course shone on day two of the first ever Gentlemen's Cup. The course proved as challenging as anticipated and set up arguably the four greatest holes in G-Cup history.
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The Lords were looking strong going into the day sitting on a two point lead, but the Nobles were undeterred.
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Connor Fee put up the lone point for the Lords, beating Alex Levy in a match that went 16 holes.
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Tristan Davis and Phil Jones handily dispatched Ryan Murphy and Jeff Steinke respectively setting up a final match between Reed Cheatham and Chip Cavanaugh.
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Trading blows, Reed took an early lead but was never up more than two holes. Chip stayed focused, storming back on the second nine and reached the tee at the 513-yard par five 18th all square. While Reed played steady golf and got his par, Chip dropped a monster 20 foot putt to birdie 18 and win the match and tie the G-Cup.
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Unprepared, the gentlemen of the G-Cup weren't concerned - they simply turned the carts back to the par three 10th hole for a 8-man best ball finish. Burning edges, but not sinking any birdies the Lords and Nobles tied with 3s and headed to 11 to play 8 man scramble.
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Pars again were the best each team could do and with sunlight rapidly fading they skipped ahead to number 13 and decided a single hole of alternate shot golf would settle the G-Cup.
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Under incredible pressure, Reed Cheatham and Chip Cavanaugh bombed drives into the fairway while the whole squad looked on. Phil Jones put the Nobles just off the green on the left while Connor Fee hung a 6 iron out right leaving the Lords with a tricky up and down to a short sided pin.
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One incredible flop shot for the Lords, and one putt that just "should have but didn't" for the Nobles left the two teams tied again. With not an ounce of sunlight left, the teams decided to settle the Gentlemen's Cup in the most appropriate way - by returning the next year to decide the true champion.
