FALMOUTH, Massachusetts (October 10, 2024) – On the third day of the Endicott Cup and Tri-State Matches the women of Mass Golf, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are competing in match play simultaneously against each state. Though Massachusetts held a strong front during the Endicott Cup, the Tri-State and Eaton Cup Matches became anyone’s game.
After two days of stroke play, the low-7 scoring players and one alternate in gross and net compete for the Tri-State title and Eaton Cup title respectively. The matches are played for all 18-holes on the basis of a point system. One (1) point is awarded for every hole won, ½ point for every hole halved and zero (0) points for any hole lost. All 8-players on each team have their points count toward the team score as long as no alternate is needed to replace a player in the field.
Last year, both the Tri-State and Endicott titles were won by Team Mass Golf.
Thursday brought challenge to the 48 players remaining in the field. Heavy gusts if wind blew in off of Quissett Harbor, conditions that escalated from the mild breeze the last two days. While less daunting across the street on holes 2-8 & 11-15, the wind still rustled through the trees. Minor storms on Tuesday night let up ease on the greens for Wednesday. After having time to dry out, they were in tip-top shape for a day of match play.
One trophy will go home with each state after the third day of play completed.
In the Eaton Cup Matches (Net), Team Massachusetts earned 84 points over Connecticut, and 86 points over Rhode Island, bringing their total earned points to 170. Connecticut scored next highest at 133 points, and Rhode Island earned 129 points.
In the Tri-State Matches, Team Massachusetts earned 160.5 points, but Connecticut out scored with 162.5 points. Rhode Island earned 109 points.
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In 1926, the first Endicott Cup tournament was held at Hartford Golf Club (CT) as a 36-hole stroke play competition between members of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Women’s Golf Associations. The Endicott Cup was presented by Priscilla Maxwell Endicott as the winner of the competition. The plan was that the first person to win the trophy three times would retire the cup.
Edith Baker won the Cup in 1926 and 1928 and requested that the trophy be perpetual, with the winner keeping it in her possession for the year. In 1929, Massachusetts (whose membership included Rhode Island) and Connecticut played the Kittredge Cup as the third day match play competition for the nine low gross players from each team. In 1930, Rhode Island joined as a third team and the Kittredge Cup was retired and replaced with the Tri-State Trophy.
Today, Endicott Cup competitors play two rounds of stroke play over the first two days. The seven low gross and seven low net players (plus an alternate from each state for the gross and net teams) compete in the Tri-State Matches (Gross) and the Eaton Cup (Net) on the third and final day.
“The Endicott Cup is truly a fun tournament which not only provides a great format for excellent golf but good competition against one another in an effort to make the match play teams as well as keen competition with the other states,” said former Massachusetts Endicott Cup captain, Marie Butera (2000). “More importantly, it provides an excellent opportunity for camaraderie and to develop friendships with golfers from Connecticut and Rhode Island.”
