Cedar Rapids retains Ryder Cup in annual battle with Iowa City

CEDAR RAPIDS — Ross McLaughlin made sure there would be no tie this year.

With the 26th annual CRANDIC Ryder Cup deadlocked at 11.5 to 11.5 between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, the only outcome to be decided was the final singles match between the Cedar Rapids amateur golfer and Ian Whitmore of Iowa City.

It was only fitting that it was won on the 18th hole.

“Being out and able to go first was big for me,” said McLaughlin, who edged Whitmore by one stroke on the final hole and helped Cedar Rapids win the event, 12.5 to 11.5, Sunday at Cedar Rapids Country Club. “I made sure I got it on the green even if it was a downhill putt to put the pressure on. Obviously when he came up short (of the green and the ball) came back to his feet, I knew we pretty much had it from there.”

The victory keeps the Ryder Cup with Cedar Rapids for the third year in a row. Cedar Rapids has won the event 16 out of 26 years with five losses and five ties.

“Means a ton,” McLaughlin said. “Last year was a sour taste in our mouth.”

https://x.com/douglasmilesCRG/status/1837932846876430712

McLaughlin, 35, graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington and golfed collegiately at Kirkwood and Mount Mercy. But from 2014-20, McLaughlin lived in the Iowa City area and was a member of the Iowa City Ryder Cup team. In 2019, McLaughlin was on the Iowa City team that won its first cup in 14 years.

Since his return to Cedar Rapids four years ago, he has been wanting a moment like Sunday.

“I have wanted the final putt for a long time,” McLaughlin said. “It finally came. … A lot of those guys are my best friends. Half of them were in my wedding party. Playing those guys just amps it up even more.”

During Saturday’s Better Ball and Alternate Shot rounds, Cedar Rapids had to charge back just to get the event to 6-6 heading into Sunday’s singles play.

“I sent a message to them last night,” first-year Cedar Rapids team captain Jeff Berndt said. “I said, ‘You know what? We didn’t play our greatest. You guys can all say you left a couple shots out there. Everyone on the team can say that. But at the end of the day, you go out tomorrow and play our game and we’ll prevail.’ That’s what we did.”

Dustin Atkinson, Chad Bosch and Mason Linn led throughout singles play for Cedar Rapids, while Luke Slaymaker was tied through nine holes before pulling ahead. Justin Pansegrau dropped his first hole before winning his match.

“It means a lot,” Pansegrau said. “We would have been satisfied with just having and retaining (the cup), but that left a little bit of a sour taste last year. We’re glad it ended our way.”

Michael Canfield, Preston Reynolds, Ryan Schrimper, Jared Deines and Seth Riggan won singles matches for Iowa City.

CRANDIC RYDER CUP

At Cedar Rapids Country Club

Cedar Rapids 12.5, Iowa City 11.5

Singles

Michael Canfield (IC), 2 and 1, over Martin Golobic (CR)

Preston Reynolds (IC), 4 and 2, over Andy Tiedt (CR)

Ryan Schrimper (IC), 1 up, over Kevin Ault (CR)

Chad Bosch (CR), 5 and 4, over Jason Urdahl (IC)

Luke Slaymaker (CR), 2 and 1, over Grant Simpson (IC)

Mason Linn (CR), 6 and 4, over Trenton Bedford (IC)

Dustin Atkinson (CR), 4 and 3, over Josh Downham (IC)

Jared Deines (IC), 5 and 3, over Chris James (CR)

Nate Dunn (CR) tied Coby Thompson (IC)

Seth Riggan (IC), 1 up, over Marc Gladson (CR)

Justin Pansegrau (CR), 5 and 4, over Kyle Noesen (IC)

Ross McLaughlin (CR), 1 up, over Ian Whitmore (IC)