Anytime the Arizona Wildcats Mens’ Golf program has a chance to take on their cross state rival Arizona State Sun Devils, it’s a big deal. But when the Sun Devils are the top ranked team in the country, game on. The two schools meet January 17th at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa in what’s being called the Cactus Cup. 
The tournament will use the Ryder Cup as its guide, playing a number of two man team matches and singles matches during the two days.Each match will be worth one point, while ties will be awarded a half-point to both sides. Twenty-four points are awarded, as it will take 12.5 to win the Copper Cup. Selection of pairings for both daily matches will be done live the night before between coaches and made available to all players and public immediately.
According to the Arizona Wildcat newspaper, Coach Jim Anderson had this to day, “Our team could not be more excited for the opportunity to open up the season in Arizona playing our rivals in a very recognizable Ryder Cup style format, While we all understand the importance of this rivalry and competition, it has been outstanding conceptualizing this idea with Coach Thurmond and the ASU staff. The pandemic has challenged us all in many ways, and I believe The Copper Cup is a gift coming from the resiliency and persistence our teams face during the challenges. This competition is possible because of the disruption in our season and The Copper Cup is a byproduct of teamwork and vision to have two of the very best college golf teams face off on day one. Getting to put on our uniforms, having a scoreboard again, playing a format we don’t see regularly (Match Play) are all going to make us better as a team. Also, getting to test the depth of our squad with eight players competing will be hugely valuable moving through the spring season.” The Devils are led by former top ranked golfer Chun An You, and the Cat’s are led by PGA U top 10 golfer Trevor Werbylo. Coach Anderson will be a guest on The Golf Arizona Show at 8 am, Saturday, January 15th.
And speaking of famous Sun Devil’s, it was 30 years ago this week that Phil Mickelson won his first PGA tour event. And he did it as an amateur. The 20 year old college junior won by one shot in the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, becoming the last amateur to accomplish the feat. He had to forego the $180,000 first place winners check…that was split between the two second place finishers, Tom Purtzer and Bob Tway. Mickelson went on the next year to be the low Masters amateur and he joined the PGA tour soon after. Arizona Daily Star Greg Hansen will join CoHosts Mike Boyd and PGA Professional Rick Price to relive the moment on the Golf Arizona Show, Saturday, January 15th from 8-9 am.
