OXFORD/ORION ? It was a battle between the New World and the Old World Sunday as 14 American golfers squared off against 14 European golfers at the Paint Creek Country Club in the first ever ‘Mini Ryder Cup Game.?
The event was organized by Rochester resident and Scotsman Tom Rowat, Jr., a member of Paint Creek C.C. and captain of the European Team.
Five Scots, three Canadians, two Germans, one Englishman, one Irishman, one Hungarian and one Yugoslavian made up the European Team.
The American team was captained by Col. Phil Farese, who led his 13 ragtag Yankee duffers to defeat the Europeans by a score of 8? to 5?.
Despite the red-white-and-blue’s victory, there were no hard feelings between the two teams ? not even the slightest hint of xenophobia or jingoism.
‘The players had a tremendous feeling of friendship,? Rowat said. ‘Everyone enjoyed themselves.?
Rowat said he looks forward to making the ‘Mini Ryder Cup Game? a bi-annual tradition at Paint Creek.
He said there’s even talk of some American players traveling to Scotland next year to play for the ‘Mini Ryder Cup? on European soil.
The impetus for the ‘Mini Ryder Cup? goes back eight years with the start of annual father-son golf game between Rowat, who’s lived in the U.S. since 1989, and his dad, Tom Rowat Sr., who still resides in Scotland.
During those one-on-one games, Rowat, Jr. played for the American side.
‘You can call me Benedict Arnold,? he said.
The ‘Mini Ryder Cup? trophy, created by European Team member Graham Robertson, will be on display at the Paint Creek Country Club for Americans to admire and Europeans to envy. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!