The Country Club of Greenfield staged one of the greatest comebacks in Franklin Cup history, rallying to win the final six matches and defeat Crumpin-Fox Club, 13-11, Sunday at the Country Club of Greenfield.
CCG captured the trophy for the 10th time in the 17-year history of the event, and remained unbeaten (9-0-0) on its home turf.
Crump held a 9½-4½ lead Sunday after the first two singles matches — Jason Goodhind defeated Chris Bourbeau, 2 and 1, and Mark Waskiewicz downed Nate Burdick, 4 and 3.
CCG picked up a key 1½ points when Don Foberg birdied the 18th hole to take a 1-up win over Ron Laverdiere 1 up and Jack Varner halved his match with Tom Bergeron. Then the teams split when Brodie Conant (CCG) bested Bill Young, 3 and 2, and Tim Rice (CFC) beat Dave Kennedy, 2 and 1, to leave CFC ahead 11-7.
Wil Conant started the comeback when he rolled to a 7 and 6 win over Steve Elkins 7 and 6. Jason Kelton followed with his 4 and 3 verdict over Chris Stoddard, and Dave Donoghue outlasted Jonathan Elkins, 2 and 1, to get the first three points.
Still needing 2½ points to win, Jake Willis defeated Phil Phillips, 5 and 3, and Mike Johnson beat Wally Fitzpatrick, 3 and 2, to put CCG ahead 12-11 and to set the stage for Jackman, the rookie who was facing Cup veteran and Crump’s all-time leading scorer, Erik Barnes.
Their match was all square on 18, where both players were left with lengthy putts — Barnes was 25 feet away, Jackman 20 feet from the cup. After Barnes missed his attempt, and with two putts to halve the hole and win, Jackman stepped up and drained his birdie putt to win the match and the Cup.
Jackman and Wilis, two of CCG’s three rookies, went unbeaten (2-0-1) in their matches.
Crumpin held a 7½-4½ lead after the Saturday’s matches. It opened up a 4½-1½ lead after the morning four-ball (better ball) after getting wins from Barnes-Steve Elkins, Stoddard-Young, Laverdiere-Fitzpatrick and Waskiewicz-Goodhind.
Conant and Kennedy won their match for CCG, while the match between Willis-Jackman and Bergeron-Phillips was halved.
The teams split the afternoon foursomes (alternate shot), with Waskiewicz-Bergeron, Barnes-Steve Elkins and Phillips-Goodhind earning the CFC points, and Willis-Jackman, Burdick-Bourbeau and Varner-Foberg chalking up wins for CCG.