Eric Lowrey came up big when it mattered most and defeated Mike Saperstein to win the 2009 Championship Cup!
Two consecutive "arctic chills" caused record-low temperatures, and shortened this year's series to 3 matches. However all 3 were hard fought and featured great clutch shots by both competitors. The Cup was not decided until the final hole of the final match.
The first contest took place at Palm Aire Oaks on a sunny, mild New Years Eve day. Saperstein was in his groove early and he took an 11-4 lead at the turn. Lowrey was not playing particularly well overall, but was on fire with his putter. He pulled within 2 points, but couldn't get over the hump. Saperstein made par 4 on the final hole (#9) to secure a tight victory, 15.5 - 11.5.
Despite the defeat, Lowrey set a State Title Golf record by needing only 26 putts for the 18 holes.
The matches resumed at Palm Aire Oaks on January 2, but it was already getting cool and windy. This didn't deter the players however as they staged one of the most dramatic matches in the history of Championship Cup.
Lowrey opened with 2 consecutive pars to take the early lead. Both players were fairly sharp, and Lowrey led 8 - 6 at the turn. Then the fireworks began:
- On the 12th hole (#7), Lowrey hit a monster drive that found the front-of-the-green bunker. He followed this with an amazing sand wedge to 4 feet and sunk the putt for a birdie 3, and a 4 point lead.
- On the 14th hole (#9), in near-darkness, Saperstein needed a birdie or par to keep the match alive. He inexplicably and miraculously sank a 40 yard pitching wedge for a birdie 3! Unshaken, Lowrey sunk an awesome 7 foot putt for a par to retain the lead, now 13 - 11.
- On the next hole (#10), needing a par to keep the match alive, Saperstein delivered the chip-and-a-putt par 4 to tie it at 13-all!
- On the final hole (#11), in extreme darkness, Lowrey responded with a textbook par 5 to win the match, 15 - 13.
The next match was played in extreme cold and windy conditions at the difficulty Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne. Saperstein had par 3s on #6 and #8 to lead 6.5 - 3.5. At darkness began to fall, Lowrey again charged. He had a par 5 on the ninth hole (#1) to pull within 1. The next two holes were split, leaving Saperstein up 7.5 - 6.5 with just enough light for one more hole.
The final hole was the par 3 #6. Lowrey hit the green, 25 feet from the pin. Saperstein missed the green, but pitched up to 6 feet. Lowrey's approach putt was excellent, leaving only 2 feet for par. Saperstein's putt for par was now basically all-or-nothing, and while it was well-struck, it lipped out. Lowrey sunk his par putt and won the match, 8.5 - 7.5!
For the second consecutive match, Lowrey had played his best when it mattered most.
While more matches were planned in the series, unseasonably extreme cold forced their cancellation. This left Lowrey the Cup winner!
Lowrey ended many years of golf frustration with the win. He has now won Championship Cup for the first time since 2001, captured the Florida State Title for the first time since 2002, and become the #1 Ranked player for the first time since 2004.
