Age and experience had a tough time hanging with the youth and talent from the golf team of Clear Creek Sunday afternoon at the 29th Warren County Cup.

Clear Creek retained the Cup for the fourth straight year, winning 15 to 13 over its rivals from the Vicksburg Country Club.

The VCC team hoped its knowledge of its home course would help against the youthful power of Clear Creek when match play began Sunday. Clear Creek had a two-point lead going into the singles matches and maintained that edge by winning six matches and halving two others.

Former Delta State University golfer Chase Smith came back to Vicksburg to play in the event for Clear Creek and on the par 5 16th, won the decisive hole when his third shot bounced within five feet of the cup. Smith defeated John Duett 4 and 3. Duett had held the lead through nine holes, but Smith, a former All-Gulf South Conference golfer at Delta State, rallied on the back nine.

Two-time reigning Warren County champion Chris Whittington rolled to a 5 and 4 win over Kacy Presley while Warren Central senior Parker Rutherford also won 5 and 4 over Eddie Buckner.

Chris Ingram, who like Smith played his high school golf at St. Aloysius and is now a student at Ole Miss, had a two-hole lead with five to play but Jake Dornbusch fired back to square the match at 17. At 18, Ingram made a four-foot par putt to salvage a tie.

Despite the draw, Ingram was glad to get a half point and help Clear Creek earn the team title.

“This is absolutely my favorite golf tournament,” Ingram said of the two-day Ryder Cup style matches between Warren County’s two golf course. “I really wanted to play my best out there and Jake played his best. He holed out at 17 and that made me have to make a putt at 18.”

Ingram said the age disparity between the two teams was a big subject of discussion.

“Someone did a sheet and our combined ages were just under 30 while the country club (team) was 43,” Ingram said. “We had two high schoolers, two college guys and Chase Smith, so that’s a very strong team.”

Rutherford played for the VCC last year, but a rule changed forced him to switch sides.

“You had to pay dues and be 18 and they got me twice there,” Rutherford said.

Rutherford won two points for Clear Creek and VCC’s Larry Rocconi said it proved to be a margin of victory for Clear Creek.

“That was a four-point turnaround,” said the 67-year-old Rocconi, who beat 28-year-old Nade Ellis 5 and 4.

Another highlight for the VCC was Bob Houser beating St. Al senior Nick Mekus, the two-time reigning Class 1A boys medalist, 1-up.

“Nick is so long, but he missed some short putts and that gave me a shot,” Houser said. “It was still close. No one was more than a shot up at any time.”

Other winners for Clear Creek were Jim Warren, Travis Ward and Bryce Perkins.

Gaining wins for the VCC were Todd Boolos, John Halpin Caldwell, John Boland, and Barry Palmertree.

Donnie LaGrone of Clear Creek halved his match with Gilliland Hunt.