Amateurs break pros’ streak to grab Cup

Team featuring Lobos takes first win in annual event since ‘14

Score one for the local amateurs, as the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association, broke the professionals’ four-year streak of winning the Challenge Cup.

The Sun Country PGA came into Paradise Hills Golf Course on Sunday, riding their streak in the Sun Country region’s version of the Ryder Cup.

The annual event features the area’s regional amateur golf association, facing off against the area’s PGA section, the Sun Country PGA, in morning team matches and afternoon singles matches.

Also, holding an overall record of 34-17-1 as the day started, the Sun Country PGA was no stranger to winning the Challenge Cup. That wouldn’t be the case this year however, and the SCAGA made it apparent early on.

The morning team matches featured two-man teams playing four-ball on the first nine hole and alternate shot on the second nine.

Matches featured a total of three points available, one for the first nine, one for the second and one for the overall.

The SCAGA raced out to an impressive lead early on as they won 18 of the available 24 points from the morning team matches.

Having to press in the afternoon matches, the Sun Country PGA hung around as the early singles matches started to roll in. But, they never seemed able to get over the hump.

The SCAGA registered a resounding 45.5 to 26.5 win following a 27.5 to 20.5 differential in the singles matches.

The winning team featured University of New Mexico golfers Roy Choi, Sam Choi and Slater Sivage, as well as recent city champion Simon Miller, recent St. Pius graduat Aidan Thomas and former Lobo Ben Tolsma.