Goldwater Cup Matches: It’s taken a couple of decades, but the amateurs from the Arizona Golf Association and the professionals from the Southwest Section of the PGA finally got into a nip-and-tuck encounter Monday and Tuesday during the 45 th annual Goldwater Cup Matches.

When the slicing and dicing finally ended at Silverleaf Golf Club in Scottsdale, it was the pros who remained on top in the Ryder Cup-style format, 13-11, as they extended their winning streak to 22 years. But the team score after the foursome and four-ball matches was 6-6, and many of the individual matches were tied going into the last hole before the pros prevailed to run their overall mark to 32-13.

Kathy Wilkes and Ed Gowan, the executive directors of the SWPGA and AGA, respectively, said the annual clash was as close as its ever been since 1984, the last time a team from the AGA won the cup.

“The amateurs were very enthusiastic going into the individual matches, and that was great to see,’’ Wilkes said. “I know that we needed just a point and a half (to clinch), and of the five matches that were still on the course, all five were all-squared. So it got a little dicey there.’’

Added Gowan: “This was really the first time since the 1980s that the matches were this close, and that was good to see. But he pros won the singles, which you would expect. They’re deep (in talent).’’

For the AGA, Ben Choe and Matt Rosen proved to be a formidable duo, as they won twice, 1-up, and then came back to both win their singles matches to account for four of the amateurs’ points. On the SWPGA side, Mike Russell and Dean Vomacka dispatched their opponents in a big way, 5-and-4 and 6-and-5, and also stayed perfect in singles.

The SWPGA also took the senior division, 10 ½-7 ½, although those matches also were tied up, 3-3, going into the individual competition. The pros lead the senior series, 19-10-4.

Unfortunately, the honoree of the matches, Bob Goldwater, was feeling ill and did not attend, Wilkes said. “This was the first time I can recall that Bob has not been here,’’ she said of the 95-year-old Phoenix resident who founded the matches in 1960. “We really missed him, and since he was a (long-time amateur), I know he would have loved to have been out here to watch this one, as they were all tough matches in the true spirit of the game.’’

NOTEWORTHY

Final major: The Arizona State Stroke Play Championship, the final major of the AGA’s schedule for 2005, will take place Thursday through Sunday at the Raven at South Mountain in Phoenix and Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler. Ken Kellaney, the nine time AGA player of the year who last won this tournament in 2004, heads the field of 144 players. The format calls for the field to be split over both courses for the first two rounds, with a cut coming after 36 holes. The third round will be played Saturday at Lone Tree, with the final 18 holes on Sunday at the Raven. Tee times begin at 8 a.m. each day.

Mickelson missing: The FBR Open Tee Off Luncheon is set for Dec. 13 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort with U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman and CBS executive producer Lance Barrow as the featured speakers. Defending champ Phil Mickelson declined to attend the event, citing family considerations. The public is invited to attend, with tickets costing $45 per person or $450 per table of 10. Reservations can be made by calling the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce at (602) 495-2182. The FBR Open takes place Jan. 30-Feb. 5 at the TPC of Scottsdale.

New name: Shea Homes has announced that its new golf division, which handles the Trilogy brand plus private clubs such as Seville Country Club in Gilbert and the new Stonehaven Country Club in Peoria, will be called BlueStar Golf. The new Shea division will be headquartered in Scottsdale on Gainey Center Drive.

And finally: In the spirit of the holiday season, Rancho Manana Golf Club in Cave Creek has began its annual toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. Through Dec. 19, any golfer who brings a new toy to the club will receive reduced green fees. For a tee time, call (480) 488-0398 or visit www.ranchomanana.com.