Amateurs capture Cup for 20th time at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, 15 to 9
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, February 4th, 2026
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The top amateur golfers from Northeast Florida made it two wins in a row over their Northern Chapter PGA counterparts in the 35th Underwood Cup on Feb. 3, capturing the Cup 15 to 9 at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach.
The win upped the Amateurs’ Underwood Cup record to 20-12-3 in the Presidents Cup/Ryder Cup-styled competition that was first played in 1992.
Amateur team captain Steve Carter holds Underwood Cup, with Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers at his side and surrounded by his winning team members.
When the suspended second-session Foursomes matches wrapped up on Tuesday morning, the Amateurs had an 8-4 advantage over the Professionals, with 12 Singles matches yet to be played. The Amateurs led 3 ½ to 2 ½ after the opening session on Monday, which was Four-Balls.
The Professionals collected three early Singles’ points when P.J. Politan, Clint Avret and Bobby Newberry dispatched their opponents. The encouragement was short-lived as Jeff Dennis, Tyler Gulliksen and Matt Saxton countered with Amateur wins of their own.
Then, when Lance Lacombe drained an 8-footer for par on the 17th hole to defeat Rob Lee, the Underwood Cup was decided, with the Amateurs having successfully retained it on the heels of last year’s 14-10 win. The Professionals had won the previous two Cup matches in 2023 and 2024.
Weather was clearly part of the story as the country’s cold winter blast of the last few days made its way into North Florida and the rest of the Sunshine state. Temperatures ranged from the 30s starting out before reaching the 50s, with frost causing delayed starts both days. Extra layers, gloves, handwarmers and ski caps were the order of the day.
While the Underwood Cup generally experiences some effects of winter, it was generally agreed that the 2026 matches were the coldest in years.
The following players were either on the winning side in all three of their matches or did not lose a match:
Amateurs
Lance Lacombe…3-0-0 Clint Avret…1-0-2
Mike Smith…3-0-0 Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth…0-0-3
Matt Saxton…2-0-1
The Cup victory was Amateur captain Steve Carter’s second as the team leader (2022, 2026). He also captained the 2023 team. The former University of North Florida stalwart has played in an Amateur-record 25 Underwood Cups. Plantation host professional Dean Grunewald captained the Professionals for the first time.
“Certainly, the conditions, especially on Monday, were pretty miserable,” said Carter. “The golf course was in fantastic condition, super-firm, super-fast and it was great golf on both sides. We came up strong, got a little momentum and that made all the difference.”
“We got some good results from the middle of the lineup,” said Grunewald. “We had things right where we wanted for a bit. Then momentum turned and we couldn’t stop it.”
The teams were comprised of the following captains and players:
PROFESSIONAL TEAM AMATE
| Dean Grunewald Assistant Captain |
The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach |
Steve Carter Captain |
Deerwood CC | |
| Matt Hipps Assistant Captain |
World Golf Village | Michael Delrocco Assistant Captain |
San Jose CC | |
| Clint Avret | Southeastern Turf Supply | Chase Baldwin | Deerwood CC | |
| Jarrod Barsamian* | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Jordan Batchelor | Deerwood CC | |
| Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth |
San Jose CC | Ty Capps* | Hammock Dunes Club | |
| Hayes Farley | San Jose CC | Jeff Dennis | TPC Sawgrass | |
| Austin Hill* | Timuquana CC | Sam Giese | Timuquana CC | |
| Andrew Lanahan* | PGA TOUR’s Performance Center | Jeff Golden | Jax Beach GC | |
| Rob Lee | Westside Golf Center | Tyler Gulliksen* | Amelia National GC | |
| Sydney Mattiace | Sawgrass CC | Lance LaCombe | Fleming Island GC | |
| Bobby Newberry | Timuquana CC | Andrew Morris | St. Johns G&CC | |
| P.J. Politan | GreatLIFE Golf | Graham Nichols* | Timuquana CC | |
| Aaron Russell | Sawgrass CC | Matt Saxton | San Jose CC | |
| Josh Wolfe | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Mike Smith | NA | |
*Underwood Cup debut
Alternates: Amateurs – Chuck Kirk (Eagle Harbor GC); Professionals – Will Rehberg (Deerwood CC)
DAY 1 MATCH RESULTS (MONDAY, FEB. 2, 2026)
6 FOUR-BALLS (a.m.)
Professional Wins (2)
Rob Lee & Aaron Russell (P) def. Andrew Morris & Chase Baldwin (A), 1 up
Austin Hill & Andrew Lanahan (P) def. Sam Geise & Graham Nichols (A), 1 up
Amateur Wins (3)
Matt Saxton & Jeff Golden (A) def. Sydney Mattiace & Bobby Newberry (P), 5&4
Mike Smith & Lance Lacombe (A) def. Josh Wolfe & Hayes Farley (P), 2&1
Ty Capps & Tyler Gulliksen (A) def. P.J. Politan & Jarrod Barsamian (P), 1 up
Ties (1)
Clint Avret & Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (P) tied Jordan Batchelor & Jeff Dennis (A)
Summary:
- Amateurs win 3 Four-Ball matches; Professionals win 2 Four-Ball matches; 1 Four-Ball match is tied.
- Amateurs lead Professionals 3 ½ to 2 ½ after Four-Ball matches.
- Professional Jarrod Barsamian made a hole-in-one at No. 7, using a 7-iron from 167 yards out.
6 FOURSOMES (p.m.) *
Professional Wins (1)
Hayes Farley & Josh Wolfe (P) def. Ty Capps & Tyler Gulliksen (A), 1 up
Amateur Wins (4)
Lance Lacombe & Andrew Morris (A) def. Aaron Russell & Rob Lee (P), 3&1
Jeff Dennis & Jordan Batchelor (A) def. P.J. Politan & Bobby Newberry (P), 5&4
Mike Smith & Chase Baldwin (A) def. Austin Hill & Sydney Mattiace (P), 3&2
Graham Nichols & Sam Giese (A) def. Andrew Lanahan & Jarrod Barsamian (P), 3&1
Ties (1)
Clint Avret & Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (P) tied Matt Saxton & Jeff Golden (A)
Summary:
- Amateurs win 4 Foursome matches, Professionals win 1 Foursomes match, and 1 Foursomes match is tied.
- Amateurs lead Professionals 8 to 4 after Four-Ball and Foursomes matches.
DAY 2 MATCH RESULTS (TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2026)
12 SINGLES (a.m.) *
Professional Wins (4)
P.J. Politan (P) def. Jeff Golden (A), 5&3
Clint Avret (P) def. Andrew Morris (A), 2&1
Bobby Newberry (P) def. Jordan Batchelor (A), 4&3
Jarrod Barsamian (P) def. Chase Baldwin (A), 5&3
Amateur Wins (6)
Jeff Dennis (A) def. Hayes Farley (P), 3&2
Tyler Gulliksen (A) def. Josh Wolfe (P), 2 up
Lance Lacombe (A) def. Rob Lee (P), 2&1
Matt Saxton (A) def. Aaron Russell (P), 6&4
Sam Geise (A) def. Austin Hill (P), 3&1
Mike Smith (A) def. Andrew Lanahan (P), 1 up
Ties (2)
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (P) tied Ty Capps (A)
Sydney Mattiace (P) tied Graham Nichols (A)
Summary:
- Amateurs win 6 Singles matches; Professionals win 4 Singles matches; 2 Singles matches are tied.
- Amateurs earn 7 Singles points and Professionals earn 5 Singles points.
- Amateurs win the 35th Underwood Cup by a score of 15 points to 9 points.
MATCH SUMMARY
Professionals Amateurs
Four-Balls
Foursomes 1.5 4.5
Singles
TOTALS 9 pts. 15 pts.
* Monday morning’s start of the Underwood Cup was delayed due to frost and cold weather. The first tee time was 10 a.m. The foursomes matches did not end until mid-afternoon. The four-ball matches began about 2:30 p.m. Play was suspended for the day due to darkness at 5:45 p.m. with only one match completed. The other four were completed on Tuesday morning, with play starting at 10:15 a.m. after another frost delay. The 12 singles matches followed, with the first match going off at approximately 11 a.m. and the last at 12:30 p.m. Temperatures reached into the 50s both days.
For more 2026 Underwood Cup details, click HERE
The matches are conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA and supported by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA), Florida State Golf Association (FSGA) and Cutter & Buck.
PHOTO GALLERY
Amateur captain Steve Carter (right) accepts the Underwood Cup from Underwood Jewelers’ Clayton Bromberg
Professional captain Dean Grunewald (left) and Amateur captain Steve Carter (right) present Underwood Cup memento to Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers.
Singles session match board
The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach was host to the Underwood Cup for the first time in 2026.
YEAR-BY-YEAR UNDERWOOD CUP HISTORY
Conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA since 1992, supported with volunteers and promotion by JAGA and the FSGA, hosted by Timuquana Country Club (first 30 years and 2024), San Jose Country Club (2022 and 2023), Deerwood Country Club (2025) and The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach (2026), and sponsored by Underwood Jewelers all 35 years.
| 1992 – Professionals 16 ½, Amateurs 7 ½ * | 2011 – Amateurs 12 ½, Professionals 11 ½ * |
| 1993 – Professionals 14, Amateurs 10 * | 2012 – Amateurs 15, Professionals 9 * |
| 1994 – Professionals 13, Amateurs 11 * | 2013 – Amateurs 15 ½, Professionals 8 ½ * |
| 1995 – Professionals 12, Amateurs 12 (Tie) * | 2014 – Amateurs 13 ½, Professionals 10 ½ * |
| 1996 – Professionals 13, Amateurs 11 * | 2015 – Amateurs 17, Professionals 7 * |
| 1997 – Professionals 15 ½, Amateurs 8 ½ * | 2016 – Professionals 13, Amateurs 11 * |
| 1998 – Amateurs 13 ½, Professionals 10 ½ * | 2017 – Amateurs 14, Professionals 10 * |
| 1999 – Professionals 16, Amateurs 8 * | 2018 – Amateurs 13, Professionals 11 * |
| 2000 – Amateurs 12 ½, Professionals 11 ½ * | 2019 – Amateurs 17 ½, Professionals 6 ½ * |
| 2001 – Amateurs 12 ½, Professionals 11 ½ * | 2020 – Amateurs 16, Professionals 8 * |
| 2002 – Professionals 13, Amateurs 11 * | 2021 – Amateurs 16, Professionals 8 * |
| 2003 – Amateurs 16 ½, Professionals 7 ½ * | 2022 – Amateurs 14 ½, Professionals 9 ½ ** |
| 2004 – Professionals 13 ½, Amateurs 10 ½ * | 2023 – Professionals 14 ½, Amateurs 9 ½ ** |
| 2005 – Amateurs 17, Professionals 7 * | 2024 – Professionals 12 ½, Amateurs 11 ½ * |
| 2006 – Amateurs 12 ½, Professional 11 ½ * | 2025 – Amateurs 14, Professionals 10 *** |
| 2007 – Amateurs 12, Professionals 12 (Tie) * | 2026 – Amateurs 15, Professionals 9 **** |
| 2008 – Amateurs 12, Professionals 12 (Tie) * | |
| 2009 – Amateurs 13 ½, Professionals 10 ½ * | AMATEURS LEAD CUP 20-12-3 |
| 2010 – Professionals 15, Amateurs 9 * |
Host Venues: Timuquana CC (*); San Jose CC (**); Deerwood CC (***); The Plantation at PVB (****)
- Some details used in this press release credited to Garry Smits/Florida Times-Union.
- Photo credit to “Northern Chapter PGA/JAGA”.
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ABOUT THE NORTHERN CHAPTER PGA
The Northern Chapter is made up of 300 men and women PGA Professionals serving the game of golf. The boundaries of the chapter extend north to the Georgia state line, west to Tallahassee, and the south including Levy, Alachua and Putnam counties.
The Northern Chapter is governed by volunteer Officers elected by the membership. The Core Purpose is to deliver the member programs and services of the North Florida PGA. The Northern Chapter provides continuing education, pro-pro and pro-am tournaments. In addition, Northern Chapter PGA Professionals are involved in charitable outreach initiatives serving our communities.
ABOUT UNDERWOOD JEWELERS
Since 1928, Underwood Jewelers has provided Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach and Northeast Florida with beautiful engagement rings, designer jewelry and luxury watches through its long-term quality philosophy. Underwood’s is a proud member of the American Gem Society in which only the most ethical, educated and consumer protective jewelers are qualified to join. It is a sixth-generation family business and an Official Rolex Jeweler. Underwoods has three locations, in San Marco, Ponte Vedra Beach and Avondale.
ABOUT THE UNDERWOOD CUP
First played in 1992, the Underwood Cup mirrors professional golf’s Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup competitions. It features 12 leading PGA of America members from the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA Section competing against 12 elite amateur golfers from Northeast Florida. The first 30 Underwood Cups were hosted by Timuquana Country Club. In 2022 and 2023, the matches moved to San Jose Country Club before returning to Timuquana in 2024. Last year (2025), they were played at Deerwood Country Club for the first time. The 2026 venue, The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, is also a new home. Underwood Jewelers has sponsored the Cup all 35 years. The Amateurs hold an 18-13-3 advantage over the Professionals in the first 34 matches, with the Amateurs winning the Cup back (14-10) in 2025. The matches are conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA and supported by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) and Florida State Golf Association (FSGA).
CONTACTS
Professional Team
Dean Grunewald
Northern Chapter PGA Team Captain &
Director of Golf/ The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach
Cell: 904-334-4611
Email: dgrunewald@
Amateur Team
Steve Carter
Amateur Team Captain
Deerwood Country Club
Cell: 904-673-6699
Email: carterskj70@gmail.com