Two veteran teams will square off on Feb. 2-3 at the Plantation at Ponte Vedra for the 35th Underwood Cup, an annual match-play event between Northern Chapter PGA professionals and First Coast amateurs. 

Captains Dean Grunewald of the pro team and Steve Carter of the amateur team will have three rookies each on their 12-man teams as the Cup Matches are played outside of Duval County for the first time in history. It was at the Timuquana Country Club from 1999-2022, at the San Jose Country Club in 2023 and 2024 and at the Deerwood Country Club in 2025. 

The Amateurs won 14-10 last year, after the pros captured the event two years in a row. The Amateurs hold an 18-13-3 lead. 

First-time professional players will be Jarrod Barsamian of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Austin Hill of Timuquana and Andrew Lanahan of the PGA Tour Performance Center. 

Amateurs making their debut are Tyler Gulliksen of Amelia National, Ty Capps of the Hammock Dunes Club and Graham Nichols of Timuquana. 

Also on the pro team will be Clint Avret of Southeastern Turf Supply, Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth of San Jose, Hayes Farley of San Jose, Rob Lee of the Westside Golf Center, Sydney Mattiace of the Sawgrass Country Club, Bobby Newberry of Timuquana, P.J. Politan of GreatLIFE Golf, Aaron Russell of Sawgrass and Josh Wolfe of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. 

On the amateur team are Chase Baldwin of Deerwood, Jordan Batchelor of Deerwood, Jeff Dennis of the TPC Sawgrass, Sam Giese of Timuquana, Jeff Golden of Jacksonville Beach, Lance LaCombe of Fleming Island, Andrew Morris of the St. Johns Golf and Country Club, Matt Sexton of San Jose and Mike Smith of the TPC Sawgrass. 

Matt Hipps of the World Golf Village will assist Grunewald. Past amateur captain Michael Del Rocco of San Jose will assist Carter, who has been an Amateur player for a record 25 years and is serving as the captain a third time.  

The players will compete in six foursomes matches in the morning on Feb. 2 and six fourball matches in the afternoon, then compete in 12 singles matches on Feb. 3. 

JAGA releases 2026 schedule 

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association unveiled its 2026 schedule that begins with the 10th First Coast Amateur Jan. 17-19 at the Deerwood Country Club and ends with the Family Championship on Dec. 19 at the Jacksonville Beach Golf Club. 

There are 11 championships operated by JAGA or with the association’s support. They include match play, four-ball and stroke play events for men, women, seniors and juniors. 

The significant areawide championships are the JAGA Senior Championship May 3-5 at the Stillwater Golf and Country Club; the JAGA Amateur, July 19-21 at the Sawgrass Country Club; and the First Coast Women’s Amateur July 20-22 at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club. 

Information on the tournaments and how to enter can be found at jaxareagolf.org. 

Derek Sprague leaves PGA 

Former TPC Sawgrass general manager Derek Sprague has stepped down as the PGA of America Chief Executive Officer, citing family concerns in caring for his mother and mother-in-law. 

Sprague took over at the PGA in 2024. He has been a PGA member since 1993 and was the Association President from 2014-16. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2019. 

Sprague was the TPC general manager from 2018 to 2024, helping oversee the transition of The Players Championship from March to May and navigating the club through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Serving as CEO of the PGA of America over the past year has been an incredible honor, and I will always be grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board and thank them for their understanding,” Sprague said in a statement. “I also want to thank our staff for their tireless dedication. Their passion and commitment inspire me, and I know the Association will continue to thrive as it carries forward the proud mission of serving our members and growing the game.” 

Senior Amateur event coming to First Coast 

The Women’s Southern Golf Association will play its 41st WSGA Senior Championship Oct. 5-7 at the King & Bear. The 54-hole stroke play event will have senior and super-senior divisions and players can earn World Amateur Golf points. … Bill Hargrove matched his age of 87 on Jan. 7 at San Jose and had a bonus: a hole-in-one at No. 12. He used a pitching wedge from 87 yards out. … Three First Coast players finished among the top five in the Florida State Golf Association’s first Winter Series event at the Innisbrook Resort Island Course. Brian King of Fernandina Beach (155) finished second to Adam Creighton of Trinity (149), Billy Lodise of St. Augustine (156) was third and Steve Pitts of Ponte Vedra Beach (157) was fourth. Chuck Kirk of Middleburg (161) tied for 10th. 

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Veteran teams will met at Plantation at Ponte Vedra in Underwood Cup