10/05/2026
Elbel Elation!
Under gorgeous, sunny skies and mild temps, Team Elbel shook off a 6-year losing streak to Erskine, winning the annual “Big E” Challenge Cup matches between the two courses today at Elbel.
The teams split the morning matches, 9-holes of both Two-Person Scramble and Foursomes play (a.k.a. “Alternate Shot”), each earning 7 points.
For Erskine, the teams of Eby-Sieradzki, Loaiza-Spencer, Curtis-Happ and Loucks-Marquez earned a full point in the Two-Person Scramble format, Erskine’s strong suit this year, edging Elbel 4-3.
In Foursomes play, only Loaiza-Spencer and Loucks-Marquez earned a full point for Erskine, with Brooks-Bonk and Nash-Setliff halving (tying) their matches.
Elbel’s teams of Kowalski-Oltman, Williams-Farrell and Filchak-Windner were the only point winners in the Scramble format but all three pairings earned a full point, which kept Elbel in the hunt.
“Big Green” pulled even after Foursomes play, with the teams of Shaw-Smith, Glover-Robinson and Filchak-Windner taking full points and Kowalski-Oltman and Williams-Farrell earning a half point each (tied match).
Upon completion of the first 18-holes, the team matches, players enjoyed delicious Elbel lunch offerings, and a cold beverage, as they prepared for their 9-hole singles matches.
With the “Big E” tied at 7, Erskine’s event dominance was and stake, to be determined across 14 singles matches. The first team to earn 14 ½ points on the day would claim the Cup.
The biggest question for Team Elbel was whether they could overcome a losing streak that dated back to 2020, with a couple of heartbreaking losses in that mix, and step up in singles play.
And step up Elbel did!
Big Green earned 8 ½ points in the afternoon, with Win Lindner, Andy Williams, Brian Farrell, Ryan Glover, Tim Robinson, Nolan Szymanski, Kevin Kowalski and Jeff Oltman each winning their match and Dan Filchak earning a halve.
Win Lindner was the “MVP,” the lone player earning a full 3 points on the day.
Elbel’s 15 ½ to 12 ½ victory over Erskine brought loud cheers and many smiles to the Elbel clubhouse, only topped by the sportsmanship and camaraderie between the two teams throughout the matches.
Many thanks to all the players for participating, our Food & Beverage staff for their fantastic offerings, our Golf Course Maintenance staff for preparing the course so beautifully and to Elbel Golf Shop staff member Jim Lewellen for assembling the winning team!
