WILSON CUP 2024: WCC, WSCC advance to Cup final

The Wilson Country Club team and its head golf professional, Reid Hill, were focused on a “Lucky 13 Sunday” in opposing defending champion Willow Springs for the Wilson Cup championship Sunday at Wedgewood Public Golf Course.

WCC, paced by the perfect showing of the duo of Matt Ellis-Coalter Paxton IV, notched eight points in both the morning and afternoon sessions Saturday and paced the three-team field with 16 points.

Willow Springs, which trailed WCC 8-7 after the morning session, accumulated 13 ½ points to join WCC in the championship match. Wedgewood managed 6 ½ points.

Sunday’s final marked the Cup farewell for Hill, who retires in October.

“We, obviously, had the home-course advantage (Saturday),” Hill, in his 27th year as WCC’s head pro, noted. “We played pretty much the  full golf course, and the greens were perfectly good. A lot of putts were made.”

However, the menacing rough took its toll — especially upon Wedgewood and Willow Springs golfers who have not or seldom play the par-72, top-condition WCC layout.

Ellis-Paxton posted Saturday’s only perfect score, defeating Willow Springs’ Zim Hagan-Brandon Godwin, 2-0, in the morning session, and repeating the feat against Wedgewood”s Joel Whitley-John Varnell in the afternoon. One point is awarded to the victor of each nine-hole segment.

In the opening match, Ellis-Paxton blistered the layout at 6-under for seven holes. The under-par assault continued in the afternoon.

“They played awesome,” Hill lauded Ellis-Paxton, “They are a great team.”

Hill pointed out the duo became familiar with one another in junior golf and have teamed excellently in Cup competition. Ellis landed a spot on the WCC team for the second year, after a long stay with Wedgewood.

Notching three points were Clint O’Hara-Scott deKeyzer and Kyle Norville-Seth Pattan. Also drawing praise from Hill was the pair of David Hesmer-Dwayne Baker.

Among the WCC seniors, the team of Stan Corbett-Hearn Walston earned 2 ½ points, while Wilson County golfing legend Bill Boles Jr. collected a point each with M.A. Tyson and Hewitt Poland as partners.

Arguably, no player among the three teams was more delighted to be in the field than Willow Springs’ Matt Sullivan. The 31-year-old product of Hunt High and UNC Wilmington had not appeared in the Cup since appearing with Wedgewood in 2016. After a couple of failed qualifying attempts with Willow Springs, Sullivan succeeded, carding the lowest score in the final round of qualifying.

“It’s been a battle,” Sullivan said of his qualifying adventures. “This is a great event, and I am certainly glad to be playing. The guys at Willow Springs have been a great support group.

Sullivan showed his appreciation by teaming with veteran Chance Cox to record a 2-0 morning win and deadlock in the afternoon test for a total of three points.

“I knew all along that I belonged,” Sullivan expressed. “I needed to prove it in qualifying.”

He heaped plenty of credit in Cox’s direction.

“I definitely fed off his leadership and guidance,” Sullivan explained. “He was a good partner. It definitely helps having Chance in the fairway. And he can read greens. I am hoping we get to (Sunday) and I can look forward to having Chance as  a partner.

“I played really well today. I rolled in some putts. And the weather couldn’t be any better.”

Willow Springs got spark as Brandon Godwin-Hagan rebounded to sweep their afternoon match. Will Pope-Justin Hayes settled for 1 ½ points. Willow Springs also got afternoon points from Josh Talton-Brock Godwin.

Among the Willow Springs Seniors, Rick Proctor-Ricky Vick picked up a point in the morning and afternoon and Butch O’Briant-Mike Kennedy salvaged a morning point.

31st Wilson Cup Interclub Golf Tournament

SATURDAY’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS

(at Wilson Country Club)

Totals: Wilson Country Club 16, Willow Springs Country Club 13 1/2, Wedgewood Public Golf Course 6 1/2

Morning session

Seniors

Bill Boles Jr.-M.A. Tyson (WCC) tied David Lee-Mike Caddy (WW) 1-1

Butch O’Briant-Mike Kennedy (WSCC) tied Stan Corbett-Hearn Walston (WCC) 1-1

Stan Corbett (WCC) def. Darryl  Webb-Tony Langston (WW) 2-0

Under 50 Group

Dwayne Baker-David Hesmer (WCC) defeated Jody O’Neal-Dwayne Baker (WW) 2-0

Matt Sullivan-Chance Cox (WSCC) def. Ryan Pittman-Joe Dyer (WW) 2-0

Clint O’Hara-Scott deKeyzer def. Mark Whitley-Travis Hux 2-0

Kyle Norville-Seth Pattan (WCC) tied Josh Talton-Brock Godwin (WSCC) 1-1

Joel Whitley-John Varnell (WW) tied Will Pope-Justin Hayes (WSCC)1-1

Matt Ellis-Coalter Paxton IV (WCC) defeated Zim Hagan-Brandon Godwin 2-0

Afternoon session

Seniors

Bill Boles Jr.-Hewitt Poland (WCC) tied Rick :Proctor-Ricky Vick (WSCC) 1-1

Stan Corbett-Hearn Walston (WCC) def. Darryl Webb-Tony Langston (WW) 1 ½-½

David Lee-Mike Caddy (WW) def. Butch O’Briant-Mike Kennedy (WSCC) 2-0

Under 50 Group

Matt Ellis-Coalter Paxton IV (WCC) def. Joel Whitley-John Varnell (WW) 2-0

Matt Sullivan-Chance Cox (WSCC) tied Clint O’Hara-Scott deKeyzer (WCC)1-1

Zim Hagan-Brandon Godwin (WSCC) def. Jody O’Neal-Joey Lamm (WW) 2-0

Kyle Norville-Seth Pattan (WCC) def. Ryan Pittman-Joe Dyer (WW) 2-0

Josn Talton-Brock Godwin (WSCC) tied Mark Whitley-Travis Hux (WW) 1-1

Will Pope-Justin Hayes (WSCC) def. Dwayne Baker-David Hesmer(WCC) 1 ½-1/2

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