Longboat golfers celebrate 25 years of friendly competition

By Dana Kampa
| 2:25 p.m. February 20, 2026

Golfers competing in "Pittsburgh vs. The World" may be rivals out on the green, but at the celebration afterward, they have nothing but smiles for one another. Jan Van Iten and Carol Westwood are the original captains in the friendly tournament, which marked 25 years on Feb. 16.

Longboat Key
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Some would say it's the pits to be on the Pittsburgh side of the "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf tournament, considering the team composed of Pennsylvania natives has gone through a multiyear dry spell. But winning isn't really the point of this friendly annual competition, and the streak did nothing to dampen all the attendees' excitement at the 25th annual get-together on Feb. 16 at The Links on Longboat Key.

The teams had a shotgun start at 1 p.m., with 22 members playing for each side. Pittsburgh players sported their iconic black and gold, and "The World" players turned out in red, white and blue.

Between both teams in the "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf competition, 44 local golfers joined in the 25th annual contest.

They returned to the starting point at Spike 'n Tees, where they relived memories from the past two decades through stories, songs and collage boards.

This tournament has seen some close competition, with Pittsburgh eking out wins like the 495-498 win a few years ago. However, it remains an uphill climb considering "The World" has a wider pool of golfing experts from which to pull.

Joann Stein and Jill Lenchner helped coordinate the Pittsburgh team this year, and Amy Chapman and Pam Snauwaert helped lead "The World."

Jan Van Iten and Carol Westwood, two of the original team coaches, shared in a reenactment how a conversation 25 years ago about "Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh" sparked the friendly rivalry between Longboaters hailing from the city and from Chicago — which was eventually expanded to include other cities. The players have changed through the years, but the competitive spirit has stayed.

It was, again, an exciting competition this year. But "The World" maintained its streak with a 634-655 final score.

Laralee Bush and Chris Hersberger were on the Pittsburgh side of the "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf tournament.

"The World" team in the 25th annual "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf competition ended up taking the 2026 title with a final score of 634-655.

Several members of the 22-person Pittsburgh team have been part of the "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf tournament since it began 25 years ago.

The original "Pittsburgh vs. The World" members who joined the 25th annual face-off on the golf course were Barbara Brizdle, Penny Wolf, Margaret Lachmann, Jan Van Iten, Carol Westwood, Joann Stein, Chris Hersberger and MaryJo Spinola.

Marcie McGovern, Mary Taylor and Angie Newman competed on behalf of "The World" in the Feb. 16 golf match at The Links on Longboat, the 25th annual "Pittsburgh vs. The World."

Carol Meese, Joann Little Stein and Jan Van Iten don't let team allegiances separate them at the award ceremony following the 25th annual "Pittsburgh vs. The World" golf competition.

The Feb. 15 tournament made it 25 years that Longboat Key golfers have been facing off in "Pittsburgh vs. The World."

Jill Lenchner, Carol Westwood and Katie Moulton

Terry O'Hare, director of golf, announces "The World" as the winner of the 2026 "Pittsburgh vs. The World" contest.

The winners of "Pittsburgh vs. The World" sing a celebratory song.

Pittsburgh responds to the winners' cheers with a song of their own.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.