Series shootout: Odds vs. Evens is county's version of Ryder Cup
The inaugural Calhoun County version of the Ryder Cup is played this weekend, and one of the captains is approaching it just like its biennial international counterpart.
Jeremy McGatha, the runner-up in the Best of the Best Series and captain of the Evens team, has been poring over the respective rosters looking to put together the best pairings and possible match-ups for his team.
The even-numbered eight in the top 16 of this year's Best of the Best standings take on the odd-numbered eight at Cane Creek starting Saturday. Reigning County champion and Player of the Year Garrett Burgess captains the Odds.
The teams will play two-man best ball matches Saturday morning and modified alternate shot matches in the afternoon. Singles matches are scheduled for Sunday. The first team to 8.5 points wins.
The Player of the Year and statistical champions of the series will be recognized at a dinner Saturday night.
"Everybody I've talked to is pretty pumped about it," McGatha said. "It's match play, it's points and it's all paid for. This is your reward for playing hard this year and making the top 16. Next year, if this goes good, I'm hoping the players will say, 'I've got to get in this top 16.'"
The Odds team features Burgess, Grant Hockman, Jaylon Ellison, Marcus Harrell, Cypress Hathorn, Dan McClellan, Dan Griffin and David Martin. The Evens feature McGatha, Ott Chandler, Brennan Clay, Matt Rogers, Jason Johnson, T.J. McGatha, Richie Nabors and Chip Howell.
Odds players won five of the seven Best of the Best tournaments this year.
"Looking at the teams the way they fell out, it looks like we're probably the underdog," McGatha said. "But we've got a pretty good team."
The captains are expected to disclose their lineups by Friday evening.
No word on who will play the Paul Azinger role and who will play the Nick Faldo role. They were the respective U.S. and European captains for this year's real Ryder Cup, which the U.S. won 16.5-11.5.
