About The Klerin Cup

Tournament Overview

The Klerin Cup is an annual team golf tournament founded by Caleb Cain and Paul DiGiaccobbe. Inspired by the Ryder Cup, this event brings together friends and competitors for an intense weekend of match play golf held every August.

Now in its fourth year, the tournament has grown from a 6v6 format in its inaugural year to the current 8v8 team competition, featuring 54 holes of golf across multiple formats.

Tournament Format

54 Holes Over Two Days

  • Saturday Morning: 18 holes
  • Saturday Afternoon: 18 holes (expanded to a full round in 2026)
  • Sunday Morning: 18 holes

Match Play Formats

Each 9-hole segment features a different format:

  • Best Ball
  • Scramble
  • Shamble
  • Chapman/Alternate Shot
  • Singles (1v1 matches)

Scoring System

Each foursome (2 players per team) has 7 points in play across the weekend:

  • Saturday Morning (2 points): Front 9 and Back 9 are separate 2v2 matches worth 0.5 points each, plus an 18-hole aggregate (total holes won across both nines) worth 1 point.
  • Saturday Afternoon (2 points): Same structure — 0.5 + 0.5 for the nines, 1 for the 18-hole aggregate.
  • Sunday Morning (3 points): The Front 9 is a 2v2 match worth a full point (no aggregate). On the Back 9, each foursome splits into two 1v1 singles matches worth 1 point each.

Ties split the points down the middle: a halved Saturday nine splits 0.25 / 0.25, and a halved aggregate, Sunday front nine, or singles match splits 0.5 / 0.5.

Challengers vs Champs

Teams are designated as Challengers and Champs:

  • Champs: The defending champion team, led by either Caleb or Paul (whoever won the previous year)
  • Challengers: Led by the co-founder who didn't win the previous year, seeking to claim the cup

Tie Rule: In the tradition of the Ryder Cup, if the match ends in a tie, the Champs retain the Klerin Cup.

Tournament Rules

Match Play Scoring

Every match is scored hole by hole: the team (or player) with the lower score wins the hole, equal scores halve it. A match is over once one side leads by more holes than remain. Results use standard match play notation — "3&2" for a match won with holes to spare, "2 Up" when decided on the final hole, and "A/S" (all square) for a halved match.

18-Hole Aggregates (Saturday)

Each Saturday round's aggregate compares a foursome's total holes won across the Front 9 and Back 9 combined. The same foursome must play both nines for the aggregate to count.

Ties

Halved segments, aggregates, and singles matches split their points evenly between the teams. If the tournament itself ends in a tie, the Champs retain the Klerin Cup.

Who Keeps Score

Every player in a match can enter live scores — groups are encouraged to have anyone in the foursome or pairing submit hole-by-hole results. Scores are confirmed on the course between the teams before entry, and any dispute or correction is settled by a tournament admin, who can review and adjust recorded holes.