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The Wilson Times
WILSON CUP 2024: WCC retains Cup, honors outgoing pro Hill
By Paul Durham,
12 hours ago
WCC’s Coalter Paxton IV halved his singles match against Justin Hayes at Wedgewood on Sunday afternoon in the 31st Wilson Cup interclub golf competition. Tom Ham | Special to the Times
Reid Hill hoisted the Wilson Cup championship hardware for the final time as Wilson Country Club’s head golf professional late on a sunny, warm Sunday afternoon at Wedgewood Public Golf Course.
WCC’s golf team not only sent Hill, in his 27th year as head golf pro, out with the team’s Cup-leading 13th county interclub championship but claimed redemption for not advancing into the 2023 final with a convincing 16-8 ½ conquest of defending champion Willow Springs Country Club.
Hill’s squad advanced into the final by pacing Saturday’s semifinals segment with 16 points. Willow Springs also advanced as Saturday’s runner-up with 13 ½ points. Sitting out Sunday was Wedgewood, which managed only 6 ½ points Saturday.
WCC now leads the Cup chase with 13 titles, followed by Willow Springs with 11 and Wedgewood with four.
Wilson Country Club head pro Reid Hill, right, and WCC team member David Hesmer celebrate after winning the 31st Wilson Cup interclub golf competition against Willow Springs on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Wedgewood. Grace Bell | Special to the Times
HILL DELIGHTED
“I didn’t do a thing,” said the smiling Hill, who will retire October 30, while clutching the championship spoil. “They (the players) won it, but it is satisfying. Everybody came together; we had some great golf.”
Of Hill’s delight with the team celebrating the victory in his final year as head pro, Matt Ellis, who turned in a sizzling performance Saturday and played solid the entire weekend, responded: “I couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t get along with anybody any better. I have really enjoyed the 18 months I have been out here.”
But not to be overlooked was the determination of a 12-player lineup, virtually intact from 2023, to gain redemption by seizing the Cup it did not qualify to play for last year.
The turning point occurred late in Sunday morning’s session and the outcome was actually clinched in the four Seniors individual matches.
WCC led 7 ½-5 after Sunday morning’s 18 holes, and Willow Springs could add but 3 ½ points in the individual head-to-head matches. WCC was awarded a half point for amassing the most points Saturday. The intent of the extra half-point is to avoid tied championship final scores.
HAD A CHANCE
“I honestly thought we had a chance to win,” commented veteran Chance Cox, a stout performer for Willow Springs. “We did have a chance. I thought it was going to be us and the country club (in the final). We played great, but it was not quite enough.
“The biggest thing was the Seniors — they had a tough time. (WCC’s) Kyle Norville was able to drive the par-4s (Norville drove three of them). That was an advantage for them. They got us in the morning.”
Willow Springs’ Brandon Godwin chips to the No. 14 green at Wedgewood during Wilson Cup final Sunday afternoon. Tom Ham | Special to the Times
Appearances indicated WCC might escape with a one-half point lead in the morning as the Willow Springs tandem of Cox-Matt Sullivan owned a 2-up margin with three holes remaining in the modified alternating-shot match.
However, WCC’s Norville-Seth Pattan won the last three holes, winning with birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 and a par at No. 17 for a 1-up comeback.
“That was huge,” Hill declared.
“We turned it around,” Pattan commented. “We had a great finish.”
Added the long-hitting Norville: “One hole at a time and hit it close.”
Proud of their successful comeback, Norville and Pattan each lost his head-to-head afternoon match. Norville disclosed his game came apart after he ate lunch.
“It happens sometimes,” he reasoned. “I was ready. He (Sullivan) played amazing, and he deserved (6-5 win).”
WCC SENIORS CLINCH IT
Then, the seniors quartet of legendary Bill Boles Jr., Hewitt Poland, Hearn Walston and Stan Corbett notched 3 ½ of a possible four points. Boles won another classic match, 2-up, from another county great, Butch O’Briant; Walston birdied No. 18 to clip Ricky Vick 1-up; Corbett turned back Clayton Pridgen, 3 and 2, and Poland salvaged a half against Mike Kennedy.
“The Seniors were big,” Hill commended. “They won seven points out of a possible eight.”
Boles conquered O’Briant, a rival on the golf course but a close friend for decades, for the third straight time. Boles fired birdies at Nos. 1, 7, 10, 12 and 14, while O’Briant answered with three birdies.
Josh Talton of Willow Springs looks away as partner Brock Godwin prepares to putt at Wedgewood on Sunday afternoon at the 31st Wilson Cup interclub golf competition. Tom Ham | Special to the Times
“It was a battle,” the 76-year-old Boles said. “Not a hole was won with a par (all birdies). He and I are such good friends, and I admire his golf game. We play by such different methods. He depends on the short game and I depend on my long game. We have been mostly even out here for 30 years. It goes back and forth.”
WCC singles victors were Clint O’Hara, David Hesmer, Dwayne Baker and Matt Ellis among the 55-Under entrants. Scott deKeyzer and Coalter Paxton IV played their respective opponents even.
In defeating Brandon Godwin, Baker birdied Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 16 to prevail 3 and 2.
“Why do I always get somebody all heated up?” Godwin lamented. Ellis capped a torrid weekend in his second appearance for WCC.
HILL PRAISES ELLIS
“Matt Ellis golfed his ball this weekend,” Hill remarked. “He played as good as anybody in the tournament. We knew the pairing of (Paxton) and him was going to be a good one.”
“We (Ellis and partner Paxton) just had fun.” Ellis expressed. “We have been playing golf together since I was 6 years old, and we had never played in a tournament together. This is the one I so look forward to every year.”
Hesmer was called upon to replace acclaimed junior and young adult golfer Stephen Abrams, who could not play because of a family illness. Hesmer totaled 5 points.
WCC’s David Hesmer posted a 2-up victory Sunday afternoon at Wedgewood in the 31st Wilson Cup interclub golf competition. Tom Ham | Special to the Times
“They were big shoes to fill,” Hesmer said with a grin. “But a great partner (Baker) makes it easier. I was upset to not make the tournament. When this came up, I was excited. I love this tournament. At this age, we don’t get to compete much any more. It’s a fun deal. I was very pleased (with his play). We (Hesmer and Baker) ham-and-egged it pretty good.”
Willow Springs got a half-point from Kennedy in Seniors and, in the Juniors, Sullivan and Cox each earned a point. Sullivan eagled the par-5, No. 14 layout.
In the aftermath, Hill noted he avoided emotional issues until confronted by Boles.
Said Hill: “He told me that Grover Bullin (deceased) was his pro growing up. But, now you are my pro. I cried.”
As for the Wilson Cup future, Willow Springs’ weary Justin Hayes cautioned aspiring golfers: “It doesn’t get any easier.”
And Hill added: “I would find it hard to believe I wouldn’t be here.”
Willow Springs’ Will Pope, left, and Justin Hayes discuss line of putt on No. 16 green at Wedgewood on Sunday afternoon. in the 31st Wilson Cup interclub golf competition. Tom Ham | Special to the Times
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