Madison Cup 2001 participants (front row l-r): Denny Petrella, Michael Murray, Terry Warren, Kin Headley, Nick Good and Jerry Lopynski. (Back row, l-r): Steve Dale, Joe Donatella, Paul Wanko, Sam Carey, Mark Alexander and Doug Grove.

The Madison Cup is not an heirloom demitasse from James and Dolley's Montpelier. This cup is all about golf, and it's all about "bragging rights," says Josh Pringle ('95), president of JMU's Metro Washington Alumni Chapter. Pringle coordinated JMU's first Madison Cup golf tournament last fall.

"The idea of crowning a university golf champion had been bantered about for a few years," says Pringle, "but it never got off the ground. I discussed the idea with Justin Thompson, [director of alumni relations], and the Madison Cup was born. Just imagine coming back to JMU in 20 years and showing your kids or grandchildren the Madison Cup with your name engraved as university golf champion."

Winners of the 2001 Madi-son Cup were Denny Petrella ('83), Joe Donatella ('95), Paul Wanko ('98) and Mark Alexander filling in for Jason Bagby ('96). The foursome has the "first-ever winners" bragging rights, and their team's names are engraved on the crystal and granite Madison Cup trophy on permanent display in the Leeolou Alumni Center. The Madison Cup trophy was purchased by the Metro Washington Alumni Chapter as a gift to the university.

Alumni golf teams qualify to participate in the Madison Cup by winning or finishing second in tournaments sponsored by alumni chapters, the alumni association or the Duke Club. These tournaments, called the Madison Masters, include the Fredericksburg, Richmond, Tidewater, Metro Washington, Duke Club and homecoming tournaments.
The Madison Masters tournaments take place in late spring and early summer. Pringle keeps track of the winners and runners-up and sends invitations to each team to play in the Madison Cup in the fall. The 2002 Madi-son Cup will be played Sept. 21 at the West-fields Golf Club in Clifton, Va. "We're still looking for a sponsor/advertiser for the 2002 Madison Cup," says Pringle. "We would like to have only one sponsor for the event, but we are willing to discuss opportunities with anyone."
The winning Madison Cup team is determined by an 18-hole team scramble format. Each player hits the ball from each tee. The team then determines which of the four shots is the best for that hole. All four players then play from that "best ball," and each shot is played the same way.
"Most of the Madison Masters events support an effort that the group is championing," says Pringle. "The Metro Washington Alumni Chapter's tournament supports our scholarship fund. … Ideally we'd love to have every chapter sponsor a tournament, but not every group has the size or resources to do that. Anyone [alumni, parents, friends of JMU] is invited to enter an existing tournament. Just being involved and supporting JMU is what it's all about."

To set up a tournament for the Madison Masters, contact JMU's Tracey Kellogg ('98M) at (540) 568-3592. Learn more about the Madison Cup at www.jmu.edu/alumni/golf, or contact Josh Pringle ('95) at MetroDukes Chpt@alumni.jmu.edu.

Story by Michelle Hite ('88)