(Peter Bowie, right, and Cam Roam shake hands after their match ended in a tie, giving the Virginias the clinching half point. Credit: Nate Wise/VSGA)

 

SUFFOLK, Va. (October 17, 2026) – The 81st Captain's Putter Matches came down to the final two matches Saturday at Cedar Point Club, where Team Virginias edged Team Carolinas, 24.5-23.5, to reclaim the Captain's Putter in a rain-soaked finish.

After battling to a 12-12 tie through Friday's four-ball and foursomes sessions, the two teams returned Saturday for singles competition under challenging weather conditions. With heavy rain and strong winds in the forecast, the traditional 18-hole singles matches were shortened to nine holes.

Team Carolinas collected 10 singles victories and three halves, but a late surge by Team Virginias ultimately decided the competition.

Jon Weiss, Wade Boteler, Elliott Grayson, Connor Doyal, Michael Sims, Daniel Neveu, John O'Brien, Rick Cloninger, Lenny Nash and Lee Porter each earned a full point for the Carolinas during Saturday's singles session.

With just two matches remaining on the course, Team Virginias needed at least 1.5 points to secure the victory. The Carolinas' States Fort and Peter Bowie were tasked with holding off the comeback.

Fort entered his final hole all square with Jordan Utley, but a tee shot into a penalty area on the par-3 ninth opened the door for Utley to claim a 1-up victory. That left the outcome in the hands of Bowie and Cam Roam, whose match also reached the final green.

In deteriorating conditions, Roam secured a conceded par on the closing hole, and Bowie was unable to convert his par putt. The match finished tied, giving Team Virginias the decisive half-point.

Despite the narrow defeat, several Carolinas players delivered standout performances throughout the two-day competition.

Weiss and Grayson led the way with perfect 3-0 records, teaming up for victories in Friday's four-ball and foursomes sessions before each winning their singles match Saturday. Zach Edmondson and Jackson Spires also went unbeaten, collecting two victories together Friday. Edmondson added a half-point in singles to finish with 2.5 points.

Lenny Nash and John O'Brien each contributed two points, winning their four-ball match Friday before adding singles victories Saturday.

For Weiss, the competition represented more than the results on the scoreboard.

"It's a partner tournament. You're out here to have fun and play with good people," Weiss said. "We've been selected for this great event on this great golf course, with a great clubhouse and a great staff. We just wanted to come out and have a bunch of fun, and that's what we did."

The victory marked Team Virginias' second Captain's Putter title in the past three years and its second consecutive win on home soil. Team Carolinas entered the competition as defending champion after claiming the trophy in 2025.

The closely contested matches once again showcased the competitive spirit and camaraderie that have defined the longstanding competition between the Carolinas and Virginias.

Additional reporting courtesy of Chris Lang and the Virginia State Golf Association.