U.S. Cup Recap: Smith, Gulych Emerge Victorious

Having won two Open division championships in the past only to be denied by players in other divisions for the overall title, Matt Smith of Columbus, Ohio, finally realized the pinnacle of USGTF competition as he won the 22nd annual United States Golf Teachers Cup with scores of 75-69 – 144 to take a three-stroke win over Shafiq Masih and Rebecca Samuelsson. Smith, one of the toughest and most mentally-ready competitors in USGTF history, birdied three out of the first four holes to seize the lead over first-round leader Tom Alley, and he held on the rest of the way with steady play as his opponents couldn’t keep up.

Grant Gulych of St. Thomas, Ontario, had a goal to be the first to put his name on the new United States Senior Golf Teachers Cup trophy, and he succeeded when he fired rounds of 67-70 – 137 to take the inaugural playing of the tournament. Dave Belling, a two-time U.S. Cup champion and the 2003 World Golf Teachers Cup champion, finished second, four strokes back. The turning point came at the seventh hole in the final round, when Gulych made birdie to Belling’s bogey, pushing Gulych’s lead to four and he never looked back. Gulych stayed steady throughout the final nine, never faltering and didn’t give any of his nearest competitors any hope of a comeback. He also won the 2013 U.S. Cup in Tunica, Mississippi.

For complete scores of both the U.S. and World Cups, please visit www.WorldGolfTeachersCup.com.