Was it a home course advantage, or were the Americans just better golfers? It depends on who you ask. With a final score of 13- and -a- half to 10 -and- a-half, the 11-member American team edged out the visiting British team Friday to win what participants have dubbed the amateur Ryder Cup.

This marked the fifth year golfers from both sides of the pond have gathered during the first week of October to play. The 1998 tour was played on some of the areas finest courses including Planterra Ridge Golf Club, Braelinn Golf Club and Whitewater Country Club. The group also played White Oak Golf Club in Newnan and Chapel Hills in Douglasville. Next year, the Americans will play in England.

But according to local golfer Cliff Manus, who hosted Simon Goddard of England, the annual pilgrimage is about more than golf. It,s more about camaraderie, he said. The friendly competition started when a group of Delta employees and British Airways employees took advantage of an airline bridge tour five years ago. The group has grown to a total of 20 American and British players this year.

Next October, the Americans will head for the course at Burnham Beeches near Windsor Park for a renewal of friendships and a steady diet of golf.

Players on the Cannongate Club Team were Kirt Allen, Dick Steele, Mike Culver, Hoyt DeGroot, Dave Fowler, Pat Hilton, Cliff Manus, Mike McGowan, Tom Burke, Lee Abbey and Leon Hardeman.

From Burnham Beeches: Nathan Hammonds, Simon Goddard, Rick Thomas, Simon Hatcher, Scott Macrae, Tim Davies, Colin Reed, Peter Lyall and Gordon Burwood.

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