FOR RELEASE: Saturday, November 22, 2025
-DATES, NEW VENUE AND CAPTAINS SET FOR 35th UNDERWOOD CUP-
-The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach to host annual Professionals vs. Amateurs competition for first time, Feb. 2-3, 2026-
-Host pro Dean Grunewald to captain Professionals and Steve Carter the Amateurs-
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach will host the 35th edition of the prestigious Underwood Cup for the first time in 2026. The annual matches, which pit the 12 best professional golfers from the Northern Chapter of the North Florida Section PGA against the region’s 12 best amateur golfers, will be played Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 2-3.
Underwood Jewelers has been the event’s title sponsor all 35 years, with Underwood president Clayton Bromberg being the cornerstone of the relationship since the Cup’s inception in 1992. Bromberg will once again serve in his customary role as Honorary Starter and host of the post-event luncheon and awards ceremony.
This past February, at another first-time venue, Deerwood Country Club, the Amateurs won 14-10, after coming up short to the Professionals in 2023 and 2024.
The first 30 Underwood Cups were played exclusively at Timuquana Country Club, and again in 2024. San Jose served as host in 2022 and 2023.
Captaining the Professional squad will be The Plantation’s director of golf Dean Grunewald, who served as an assistant captain this past February. Handling the captain’s duties for the Amateurs for the third time is perennial Underwood Cup participant Steve Carter. Carter has played in the Cup 25 times, the most of any Amateur participant, and previously captained a winning team in 2022 and a losing one in 2023.
Assistant captains will be named in the near future.
The Underwood Cup mirrors professional golf’s Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup competitions. On Feb. 2nd there will be six foursomes matches in the morning, followed by six four-ball matches in the afternoon. The Cup will be decided on Feb. 3rd with 12 singles matches.
The respective 12-player teams will be finalized in December and announced in January. The 2025 Northern PGA Chapter Points List plays a significant role in determining who plays for the Professionals team, with the last Points List event at The Yards on Dec. 9th. Amateur team selections are also based on a points system.
The matches are conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida Section PGA and supported by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) and Florida State Golf Association (FSGA).
The host PGA club professionals at The Plantation are Captain Grunewald and head golf professional Ryan Mikesell. The club is led by general manager Mark Gallaudet. The course superintendent is 2021 JAGA Superintendent of the Year Shannon Wheeler.
Arnold Palmer produced the original golf course design at The Plantation, which opened in 1986. It received extensive renovations in 2016, led by architect Greg Letsche. In 2023-24, The Plantation undertook major renovations to modernize the community’s facilities, which included a redesigned clubhouse, the addition of pickleball courts, and a refurbished beach house.
The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach
Credit: The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach
The Underwood Cup represents the highest level of competition and sportsmanship among sporting events in Northeast Florida. Longtime Cup sponsor Underwood Jewelers shares similar high-ceiling values in its approach to the jewelry business, which has made for a superlative 35-year partnership.
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.
YEAR-BY-YEAR UNDERWOOD CUP HISTORY (1992-2024)
Conducted by the Northern Chapter of the North Florida Section PGA, supported administratively and promotionally by JAGA and the FSGA, hosted by Timuquana Country Club (first 30 years and 2024), San Jose Country Club (2022 and 2023) and Deerwood Country Club (2025), 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) * | |
| 2008 – Amateurs 12, Professionals 12 (Tie) * | AMATEURS LEAD CUP 18-13-3 |
| 2009 – Amateurs 13 ½, Professionals 10 ½ * | |
| 2010 – Professionals 15, Amateurs 9 * |
Host Venues: * Timuquana CC; ** San Jose CC; *** Deerwood CC
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.
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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@theplantationpv.com
Amateur Team
Steve Carter
Amateur Team Captain
Deerwood Country Club
Cell: 904-673-6699
Email: cartersjk70@gmail.com
