Best of the Clubs

Great weather and golf course design guru Tom Fazio conspired to provide the perfect setting for the first-ever Southwest Florida Champions' Cup. On April 9, a picture-perfect spring Saturday, teams from 15 of the region's top private clubs took to the links at Mediterra in North Naples. Each team included the club's men's, women's and senior champions, along with a PGA professional. And when the last ball found the cup on the Fazio-designed course, three of them came out on top. Here's a quick look at the 12 winning players, champions of the champions in this golf capital of the world.

First Place: The Club at TwinEagles

Russ Berkoben

In-season home: Naples

Off-season home: Perrysburg, Ohio

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

What do you love most about the game? Competition. Least? Slow play. Describe the perfect day of golf. Good competition, a good course, winning. The secret to your foursome's success? High expectations-and everyone contributes. The best part of your game? Consistency. The best shot of your life? My putt to win at the final match of the USGA Senior Am.

PGA professional Paul Celano

In-season and off-season home: Naples

Favorite course designer: Jack Nicklaus

The best shot of your life? A double eagle at UNC Finley [Golf Course] in Chapel Hill, N.C. Describe the perfect day of golf. Playing with my wife and two sons at any course. The secret to your foursome's success? Good chemistry and great players who like to have fun. The best part of your game? Putting and driving. What do you love most about the game? The aesthetics of the many great golf courses around the world.

Margaret Shanahan

In-season home: Naples

Off-season home: Kingstown, R.I.

What's the best part of your game? Chipping. The best shot of your life? Two holes-in-one. What do you love most about the game? Meeting new people. What do you love least? Putting-and most of all, slow play. Describe the perfect day of golf. Blue skies, a light breeze and nice playing partners. The secret to your foursome's success? Good teamwork.

Dan Smith

In-season home: Naples

Off-season home: Cincinnati

Favorite course designer: Jack Nicklaus

Describe the perfect day of golf. Playing with my wife, son and daughter. What do you love most about the game? The people I play with. The best part of your game? Driving. The best shot of your life? Three holes-in-one. The secret to your foursome's success? Good teammates.

SECOND PLACE: BONITA BAY CLUB

PGA professional Peter Baxter

In-season and off-season home:

Bonita Springs

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

Any golf superstitions? I try not to break from routine. The best shot of your life? The final putt of my round of 60 in this tournament. Describe the perfect day of golf. Days like today. The secret to your foursome's success? We really feed off each other.

Gordon Brewer

In-season home: Bonita Springs

Off-season home: Pine Valley, N.J.

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

What was the best shot of your life? The shot to the green that secured my first USGA Senior Am. What do you love most about the game? The honorable traditions and the challenge. Describe the perfect day of golf. Today. What is the secret to your foursome's success? A great club pro.

Ray Lenhardt

In-season home: Bonita Springs

Off-season home: McLean, Va.

Favorite course designer: Steve Smyers

What is the best part of your game? Driving. Describe the perfect day of golf. Great weather, fast play, good friends. The secret to your foursome's success? Good play by our pro and reigning club champion. What do you love most about the game? The camaraderie and being outside in a great climate. The best shot of your life? My one-and-only hole-in-one.

Barbara Wheeler

In-season home: Bonita Springs

Off-season home: Easton, Md.

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

The secret to your foursome's success? The men! Actually, our putting. The best part of your game? My fairway woods. What do you love most about the game? The outdoors-and the way that every course looks different. Least? The fragility of the golf swing-no, slow play. Describe the perfect day of golf. Good friends and a beautiful course.

THIRD PLACE: LELY CLASSICS

Ron Cleland

In-season and off-season home: Naples

Favorite course designer:

Fry Design (Calusa Pines)

The best part of your game? Driving. What do you love most about the game? The people you meet. Least? Nothing; it's a great game. Describe the perfect day of golf. Temperature in the 60s and no rain. The secret to your foursome's success? Three great teammates.

Bill Feehan

In-season and off-season home:

Marco Island

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

Any golf superstitions? I always use Titleist No. 3 balls. The best part of your game? My short game. What do you love most about the game? The challenge on an individual level. Describe the perfect day of golf. Six birdies, 72 degrees, sunny and no wind on a course like Mediterra. The secret to your foursome's success? We have an excellent rapport and we're supportive of each other. The best shot of your life? A 242-yard double eagle.

PGA professional Chris Jensen

In-season and off-season home:

Bonita Springs

Favorite course designer: Tom Fazio

The best part of your game? Driving. The best shot of your life? A hole-in-one, double eagle on a 327-yard par 4 at Latrobe Elks Country Club [in Pittsburgh]. The secret to your foursome's success? We're relaxed, and we like to have fun. What do you love most about the game? The competition among the pros in the South Florida section. Least? There's never enough time to play.

Elaine Marohn

In-season and off-season home: Naples

Favorite course designer: Arthur Hills

Any golf superstitions? On the final day of a tournament, I must wear red. The secret to your foursome's success? Easy personalities, and we're all friends. The best part of your game? My short game. The best shot of your life? A hole-in-one on my birthday. What do you love most about the game? Meeting friends and being outside. Least? People who complain about their shots; life's too short.