Decatur Tops Worcester In Battle Of Berlin

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity golf team captured the second annual 'Battle of Berlin Challenge Cup' this week, winning five out of 10 singles matches on Monday at the Ocean City Golf Club to retain bragging rights in the community for another year.

Back in September, Decatur won the first leg of the Challenge Cup, which is played in a format similar to the Ryder Cup, by winning three of four matches and tying in the fourth in a two-person scramble to take an early three-and-a-half points to one-half point lead. Last Wednesday, Decatur expanded on its lead in an alternate-shot tournament, taking three of four matches over the Mallards.

The Decatur teams including Nikki Rafer and Andrew Urban, Connor Gebhart and Kate Kotoski, and Joe Iacona and Gabby Anthony each won their matches, while the Worcester Prep team of Ty Mayers and Scott Gee won their match. The big day by Decatur expanded the Seahawks' lead to six-and-a-half points to one-and-a-half points going into Monday's final leg of the tournament.

With a five-point lead going into the final day, Decatur only needed to win three of Monday's singles matches to take the 'Battle of Berlin' for the second straight year, but got more than enough from its singles players. Iacona, Rafer, Urban, Gebhart and Jake Miller each won their singles matches on Monday for five total points.

For Worcester, Gee, Patrick Dowling, Matt Middleton and Mike Durkin each won their singles matches for four total points, but it was not enough to catch the Seahawks. Decatur's Michelle Ott and Worcester's Brad Pedigro halved their match, earning a half-point each for their teams. In the end, Decatur won the Challenge Cup, 12-6, to earn bragging rights around Berlin until next season.