Golf: Cedar Rapids up to challenge in Senior Cup

MARION - Though it may be a friendly rivalry, make no mistake. Both teams want to win the prize.

At stake was the 2013 Senior (age 50-and-over) Challenge Cup men's golf title. Iowa City won last year, but the team from Cedar Rapids wanted to bring the trophy north.

Cedar Rapids got the revenge it wanted, winning 18-6.

In control throughout the two-day event, Cedar Rapids posted a 9-3 singles record on Sunday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. On Saturday at Amana Colonies Golf Course, the Cedar Rapids team won the foursome pairing. 5-1, and took the four-ball competition, 4-2.

“It is a great tournament, with good competition,” said Dick Larson of Cedar Rapids. “This is my eighth time playing, and I very much enjoy playing with these guys.”

Randy Larson of Iowa City agreed.

“I love it,” he said. “It is very enjoyable to play with these guys.

“We all know each other from playing in tournaments. We are all friends and this gives us all a chance to enjoy the competition with each other.”

It is about old friends and new, Joe Cullen of Iowa City said.

“It is a whole lot of fun,” he said.

The event features top finishers in each city's City Am competition.

“The guys on both teams are the best of the best, the cream of the cream,” said Cedar Rapids captain Mike Thomsen. “Every one of them has won big-time tournaments.

“It's a nice thing that we can have an event like this, where competitors on both teams all like each other, pull for each other, yet try to win that trophy for their team.”

The only complaint Sunday was about something no one could control - the weather.

“Hunters Ridge was in good shape,” Cullen said.

“All in all, it was great springtime golf,” Larson said.