In a rain-soaked afternoon at Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township, Michigan, TEAM USA held off a gallant fight from their European counterparts, securing back-to-back victories to win The Cairns Cup for the second time in succession.
After three gruelling days of golf played at times in 30+ degree heat, the USA Team, headed by Michigander Kim Moore, finished 12.5 Pts to 11.5 Pts, to lift the prestigious trophy named after Scottish disabled golfer Billy Cairns. However, it was Brandon Williams who had the honour of sinking the winning putt to claim victory.
Day one began with a 4-2 lead after the foursomes, with TEAM Europe taking the honours on day two to reduce the deficit to just a single point. Day three began with TEAM USA still requiring 5.5 points to retain the Cup and 6 points for outright victory. However, it was Rutger Pranger of the Netherlands who put the first match to bed, levelling the scores.
But following an interruption in play for the forecasted lightning, TEAM USA weathered the storm in the early afternoon, putting a flurry of red on the scoreboard. Williams, from Ohio, unaware of the magnitude of the putt he faced, was a picture of calm as he watched his ball disappear into the cup.
Asked how he felt to secure his country’s win on home soil, he said, “Amazing, it’s awesome!” Commenting further on the win, he said, “It is a dream come true! This event has demonstrated that the world of disability golf now has its own stage on which to grow the game of golf.”
The Cairns Cup – disability golf’s premier match play event – returns to Europe in 2026.
