The Ontario side got off to an early lead (5-3) after the fi rst day of play, but a hungry bunch of Michiganians rallied on the second day of competition to take 13 of 18 individual match points and regain the Kelly Cup that had been on Canadian soil for two successive years. The final count was 16-10. The US leads in the Cup series 5-3.

The matches were held at Pheasant Run GC in Canton, Michigan, near Detroit. Last year the competition was held in Sarnia, Ontario. The event is held in honor of USGTF golf teacher Thomas Kelly, who died suddenly on the golf course “with the fellas” in 2003. The Michigan side of nine players was led by team captain Don Smith of Hartland, Michigan, who tallied 2 ½ points for the US side.

“It was a team effort,” said Smith. “Each US player won at least 1 ½ points for our side. They hung in there and battled it out to the end. ”Tour veteran Jack Black (Westland) and newcomer Jeremie Lopez (Canton) won 3 ½ and 3 points, respectively. Other Michigan team members were Charlie Henry (Caseville), George Paul (Belleville), Martin Deipert (Ypsilanti), Tyrone Fletcher (Lansing), Jim Helmke (Highland), and Mark Widman (Marine City).

The Ontario side was captained by Grant Gulych of Aylmer, Ontario, who also led his team with 2 ½ points. Tour newcomer Vito Cisternino (Woodbridge) also had 2 ½ points. Every player in the field won at least ½ point in the two-day Ryder Cup-style matches. Other Ontario team members were Dennis Babcock (Chatham), Michael Hunter (St. Thomas), Paul Kelly (Leaskdale), Carl Abel (McGregor), Gilles Charbonneau (Windsor), Ron Christner (Smithville), and Chris Thompson, a United Kingdom citizen living in West Bloomfi eld, Michigan.

The first day, matches were nine holes of four ball (better ball) and nine holes of foursomes (alternate shot). The second day featured all individual matches, nine holes of Stableford and nine holes of individual match play. As usual, the matches were played with a great deal of national pride, coupled with international sportsmanship. One example involved Martin Deipert of Michigan, who called a penalty on himself for failing to move back his marker while putting during an individual match. None of his playing partners caught the infraction until Deipert announced the penalty.

On Sunday evening, Thomas Kelly’s widow, Barbara, and their sons Thomas Jr. and Edward, and grandchildren Arianna and Edward Jr. , were honored guests at a dinner hosted by the players and spouses. In 2009, the tour awarded a $1,400 scholarship to the grandchildren for their college education. Both of the younger Kelly’s are honor roll students in the Romulus school system.

Next year the Kelly Cup will be held in Ontario. The site and the Ontario team captain are yet to be determined. Helmke was elected team captain for Michigan in 2012.

For more information about the Michigan/Ontario Golf Teachers Tour, contact Charlie Henry, Michigan Tour director (clh3@comcast.net) or Dennis Babcock, Ontario Tour director (ebabcock1@cogeco. ca). Four events are being planned next summer, two in Ontario and two in Michigan, followed by the Kelly Cup in.