SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Sonny Skinner halved with Stuart Little in the deciding match and the United States won the PGA Cup for the third straight time, beating Britain and Ireland 171/2-81/2 on Sunday in the Ryder Cup-style event for club pros.
After building a 101/2-51/2 lead the first two days at CordeValle, the United States needed 21/2 points in the 10 singles matches to retain the Llandudno International trophy. The Americans lead the series 17-5-3.
Marty Jertson and Danny Balin won the opening two matches to put Skinner in position to clinch the victory with a halve. Jertson beat Craig Goodfellow 5 and 4, and Balin edged Christopher Gill 1-up.
Mark Sheftic, Faber Jamerson, Brad Lardon and Scott Erdman also won matches for the United States, and Robert McClennan halved with Simon Edwards. Robert Giles and David Shacklady won matches for Britain and Ireland.
Jertson finished the week 4-0, and McClennan and Jamerson were 3-0-1. Shacklady was Britain and Ireland’s top scorer, going 2-2-1.
The 2013 event will be played at Slaley Hall in England.
