Sun Country pros defend the Cup

The Sun Country PGA Professional team successfully defended its title to win the Challenge Cup 41-31 on Monday at Red Hawk Golf Club in Las Cruces.

Once a year, the governing bodies for amateur and professional golf in the Sun Country region face off for bragging rights. The Sun Country PGA and the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association serve up their top 16 players to compete in a one-day competition for the Challenge Cup. The professionals lead the series 34-17-1.

The event was staged in a playing format similar to the Ryder Cup as both teams faced off in team play in the morning and singles play in the afternoon.

The professionals edged the amateurs in the singles competition, 24.5-23.5, and in the team event, 16.5-7.5.

The Sun Country PGA Professional team consisted of Albuquerque’s Kevin Amhaus, Scott Gates, Bill Harvey, John McDermott, Pat Murphy and Sarah Rippberger, as well as Carlton Blewett (Roswell), Eric Chavez (Carlsbad), Mike Ciolek (Rio Rancho), Javier Delgadillo (El Paso), Russ Lara (El Paso), Scott Lieberwirth (El Paso), Devin Miertschin (El Paso), Daniel Nunez (Ruidoso), Jeff Olisar (Corrales) and Anthony Romero (Capitan).

The Sun Country Amateurs: Albuquerque’s Sean Carlon, Bowen Davis, Ross Sinclair, Kevin Sivage, Jack Slayton and Samantha Surette, as well as Rio Rancho’s Chandler Smith-Stetson, and Greg Condon (Monte Vista, Colo.), Ryo Harada (Las Cruces), Noah Hicks (El Paso), Brian Kern (El Paso), Isaac Merry (Las Cruces), Greg Mundy (El Paso), Anton Salome (Socorro), Shaun Weaver (Artesia) and Greg Yellin (El Paso).