Dalhousie edges Westwood for SEMO Cup

Bobby Godwin, left, and Brandon Lee look at their putt on the 18th green at Westwood Hills Country Club on Saturday in the SEMO Cup tournament. Godwin sank the putt for an eagle. (Brian Rosener/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ROB TATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

Over the last 10 years, the SEMO Cup has been completely dominated by Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff and Dalhousie Country Club out of Cape Girardeau.

The 2008 version of the tournament was no different. One of the clubs had won every single SEMO Cup dating back to 1998 and Westwood Hills had won the last two tournaments coming in. But the SEMO Cup's two-year stay in Poplar Bluff is over, as Dalhousie won by 11 strokes (673 overall on the day) after being tied with Westwood Hills through 18 holes Saturday.

"They're a newer club," Westwood Hills PGA Tour pro Jim Sides said. "They've been around four or five years. They've got good players and they come to our home course and took it to us."

The tournament this year featured the same format as before with nine holes each played as a best ball, a scramble, an alternate shot and a Chapman. In the past the two-some on each squad with the highest score wasn't counted. But this year, whomever on each team had the highest round in each format was not counted.

The day started out brilliantly for Westwood Hills on its home course. But in the end, but not even a little home cookin' could help.

"This was probably one of the strongest teams I've had ever," Sides added. "We had two or three new players. They're young, excellent golfers. Things happen. One format beat us -- the alternate shot."

The team of Bobby Godwin and Brandon Lee absolutely destroyed the back nine in scramble play on the first 18 holes of the day for Westwood.

The duo shot 3s on every hole, including eagles on both par 5s for an astounding 27 (8-under) in scramble play.

Derek Rahlman and Kevin Rains nearly matched that score on the Chapman round on the back nine as they shot a 29 (6-under).

"That's golf," Bobby Godwin said afterwards. "We played lights-out in the scramble getting the 8-under in that format. But we were 1-under the other three formats. Everything was going right then and a half hour later we lost. We didn't change anything, we just didn't get it done."

Godwin, a veteran of the tournament, didn't recall being on such a roll before in any format.

"We made every putt, we chipped it in once," Godwin said. "Nine 3s is just unbelievable. The next nine holes, though, we don't make anything."

Godwin didn't want to see the SEMO Cup leave the club and was especially disappointed to lose on their home turf.

"It's good for the tournament that the same team doesn't win (every year)," Godwin said. "But being at home -- that's kind of embarrassing for us. I mean we're suppose to win at home, so maybe we'll work a little harder and get back goin'. That Dalhousie is a good team."

Jimmy Vernon and Jerrod Murphy had the top performance in best ball with a 33. Bobby Godwin and Brandon Lee, as well as Ben Brumitt and Matt Hillis, shot 37s to lead Westwood in alternate shot.

Westwood tied with Dalhousie 327-327 after 18. Where Dalhousie pulled away was the aforementioned alternate shot, where it beat Westwood head-to-head, 181-193.

Coming in third place was Kimbeland CC with 695, there was a tie fourth between Kennett and Sikeston (710), sixth place was Bent Creek CC with 718, seventh was Boot Heel CC with 722, eighth was Hidden Trails CC with 725, ninth was Cape CC with 753 and rounding the tournament was Cape Jaycee with 774.