The Return of the One Club Open

The Willow Run par 3 course just minutes before we teed off.

Today twenty guys and one gal (Stephanie Secretario) braved what turned out to be surprisingly pleasant December elements for the fourth rendition of the Greenspan Cup One Club Open. (Pics.) This was the first time we’ve played the event since 2004 or 2005 — I don’t remember which, but it’s been a while. Most guys played the Willows Run par 3 course with an 8- or 9-iron. Tony O’Malley used a 6-iron — didn’t work.

Englishman Simon Wilks fired a gross 54 to beat ...

Tony Secretario by one.

Adam Waalkes (shown here with West Seattle Golf legend R.J. Spangenberg) fired a net 50 to take home second-place low net cash.

Seattle vet Jeff Benezra won in the three-man flashiest dressed contest ...

Simon Wilks’ 8-iron worked quite well for him. The 10 handicap and longtime friend of World Team vet Leo Madden shot an incredible 54 (26-28) to win low gross by one over Seattle vet Tony Secretario, who had a career day but still came up one short. (Tony was none too pleased at subsequently being compared to Bob May.) Willows Run owner and tournament host Brian Patten won low net honors (again) with a net 48.5. Adam Waalkes’ net 50 was good enough for second.

edging out me ...

and our Seattle Team teammate Max Anderson, who went with a college co-ed/Michelin Man look.

Next up: Greenspan Cup 2011. Unfortunately, it’s eight months away.

RESULTS
Simon Wilks 26-28=54
Tony Secretario 30-25=55
Mike Waldner 30-29=59
Brian Patten 31-28=59 (low net)
Leo Madden 29-31=60
John Harrison 33-29=62
Kevin McCarthy 30-32=62
R.J. Spangenberg 31-31=62
Norman Cheuk 32-31=63
Adam Waalkes 31-32=63 (second low net)
Nick Jenkins 34-30=64
Tim O’Brien 32-32=64
Peter Sarrensen 32-36=68
Joel Aro 35-33=68
Jeff Benezra 35-34=69
Jeff (last name unknown) 35-34=69
Jack Laidlaw 34-40=74
Max Anderson 35-40=75
Stephanie Secretario 39-42=81
Jordan Ramos 35-46=81
Tony O’Malley 46-46=92

Thirteen Years of Greenspan Cup Logos

While the Greenspan Cup has been an unbridled success and a great addition to the lives of its players, it hasn’t been without its problems. Our inevitable rules controversies are the stuff of legend. As controversial, but more behind the scenes, has been our struggle to come up with the perfect logo.

We didn’t need an identifier in 1998, when we all brought “matching” shirts from home. But when we started doing “the shirts” in 1999 and followed soon thereafter with a website, we needed a good logo. No one came up with a swoosh as it were, and for the last twelve years we’ve struggled to find just the right logo.

I look back at how things progressed:

This number, shown on the infamous Seattle salmon shirt, lasted from 1999 to 2003.

This one, which reminded some of The Jetsons, was so small I'm not sure why we bothered.

The Seattle Team's logo for 2010 -- simplicity inspired by Dunning.

The World Team logo, 2010.

The new Seattle Team logo for 2011.

Still nothing perfect. Indeed, so imperfect that we’re now doing our own separate logos. Here’s hoping that one of these days, one of the teams gets it right.

A Preview of the Seattle Team’s Bandon Threads

Put this one in the “someone’s way too excited about Bandon” category. Since Puma is doing it for Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson, I figured I’d put together a preview at the Seattle Team’s looks for Bandon:

Here’s what’s planned:

Friday. Our old back luck Antigua white shirt, white belt, black slacks, white shoes, gray Izod pullover.

Saturday. Two-tone zip front polo from Via Europa. Stone pants, black belt, matching shoes, navy blue Izod pullover.

Sunday. Blue-and-white striped polo from Lands End. Stone pants, black belt, matching shoes.

The open question, of course, is whether guys will actually wear what they’re supposed to.

Twelve Years of Seattle Team Greenspan Garb

I don’t know which is worse. That after twelve years of Greenspan shirts (we didn’t do shirts in year one) I still have so many hanging in my closet:

Or that, after all these years, I’m still able to remember the order we wore them in — and hang them accordingly.

Not all of them are here, to be sure. Those horrid rags from the Johnson captaincy years are gone — as is Johnson. And a few of the Cutter & Bucks Benezra picked out in in ’03 or so didn’t survive many washes. Still, I’ve managed to hang on to most of them and still wear them from time to time.

Twelve years of great memories hanging on that rod.

Can’t wait for the next twelve. The first start happening about a month from now.

Best and Worst Shirts Ever

For a bunch of guys, we Greenspanners certainly have fun with our annual uniforms. The captains have hit an occasional home run. Of course, we’ve hit a few sideways, too:

BEST

Tiger reds (World 2009)

Tiger wore this to win at Bay Hill AND Memorial in '09. The magic rubbed off on the World, although not OB.

Antigua whites (Seattle 2006)

Nothing spectacular, but these white Antiguas are very affordable and get lots of wear.

Nike blues (both teams 2005).

These 2005 Nike duds were so sweet ...

that both teams got 'em.

WORST

World’s Village People/gay sailor shirts (1998)

No buttons on that collar, and check out the logo.

World’s orange road crews (2007)

Looks like he should be spinning a sign.

Seattle’s pee yellow Ashworths (2001)

Ugly color, sleeves too long, thick as a sweater, ran about two sizes too big...

World Hawaiian camp shirts (2003)

For some reason, Sharkey thought the Worlds would be able to play golf in Hawaiian camp shirts (btw: those are short sleeves)

Seattle salmon shirts (2003)

We won by 9, but the salmon thing didn't work out.

World bubble shirts (2008) — Check ‘em out on my family blog, because . . .

this pic doesn't do it justice.

We make mistakes, but so do the real guys. (1I2.)

Best and Worst Looks

We’re supposed to be uniformed during Greenspan Cup. But occasionally, especially during the practice rounds, guys go for their own flare. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

BEST

Anderson’s Bing Crosby lid

Gotta give the guy credit -- he pulled it off.

Mike Waldner’s Miami Dolphins pants (2005)

Dan Marino called -- he wants his pants back.

Rob Stonesifer’s “Cabo Chick” hat (2006)

Not my look, but very Rob.

Jeff Haight’s hat (2006 – present)

This '06 lid isn't bad . . .

WORST

Jeff Haight’s hat (2005)

but this one ...?

Brad Nelson’s C. Everett Koop beard patch (2001)

Not really sure what Nelson was thinking here.

Joel Aro’s shorts (2009)

Did Aro steal John Daly's underwear?

Jack Laidlaw’s camo’ look (2007 — present)

Why?

Paul Sharkey’s Rosellini Cup shirt (2005)

Why wear a Rosellini Cup shirt to the Greenspan Cup?

Wednesday Rally Carries World Team to Win In Inaugural Greenspan Cup

Sunriver, Oregon – Greg Cheever and Paul Sharkey notched key wins early as the World Team staged a singles rally to defeat the Seattle Team 13-11 in the inaugural Greenspan Cup.

Wednesday's World victory featured virtually every shade of green and white in production.

Cheever set the tone early by soundly beating Seattle captain and tournament co-founder Nick Jenkins 5 and 4. Sharkey drubbed Seattle’s Max Anderson 6 and 5 in the day’s most lopsided win. Overall the World won six of eight singles matches, including the first five of the day, for the victory. “It started raining when I was six down through seven in my match, and by the third foursome it was pouring something fierce,” said Jenkins, speaking metaphorically about his team’s performance on an otherwise beautiful sunny day.

Seattle entered Wednesday’s singles round very confident after sweeping Tuesday’s fourball match play at Crosswater. Anderson and Mike Kalian started the shutout with a 1-up victory over John Gaston and the previously undefeated Adam Waalkes. “Two rounds with Gaston in the same day is quite a feat,” said Kalian from the bar at Sunriver, scotch on the rocks firmly in hand. “Isn’t there a rule against that many practice swings?” By the end of the day Seattle had won all four matches on the 40th ranked course in the nation. All of them went to at least the 17th hole.

But the match was decided on Wednesday. “We are the stronger team mentally, and we showed that today,” said World captain Norman Cheuk, who demonstrated his own mental toughness by losing 1 down to Chris Johnson. Particularly strong was Rob Stonesifer, whose clutch up and down on the 17th hole beat Dave Ashcraft 2 and 1 and clinched the Cup.

The World Team got solid outputs from several players. Waalkes led the World Team with 3 1/2 points, while Cheever, Cheuk, Stonesifer and Brad Nelson each contributed three points. John Majewski and Joel Aro had 3 1/2 points for the Seattle Team, while Johnson contributed three points to Seattle’s total.

The World's Village People uniforms had designer Sharkey singing 'YMCA': embarrassed teammates like Fisher sang the blues.

The tournament was marred by the uniforms. World Team’s Wednesday shirts, which Sharkey designed in the fashion capital of Vancouver, Washington, are already being talked about as the ugliest athletic uniforms since the 1978 Chicago White Sox pajama-type rags. The shirts had pencil thin horizontal pinstripes and blue collars with no buttons. “They look like a bunch of Village People with their gay shirts,” quipped Aro. “If I didn’t no better, I’d say that Cheuk and Sharkey made those shirts that ugly just to distract us.” Added Stonesifer: “if I were trapped in the Arctic and this were my only shirt, I’d rather freeze. I only wish I didn’t have to pay for this thing.”

Also troublesome was the lack of matching shirts on both teams. The teams agreed between themselves to wear similarly-colored short sleeve shirts each day during the matches, but that agreement proved better in principle than it did in fact. “Between all the sweaters and windbreakers and different colored blues, you couldn’t tell who was who,” said Jenkins. Seattle’s Kalian wore white shirts all three days. “I thought green, blue and white were pretty easy to understand,” said Jenkins. “I was wrong.”

Tournament organizer Jenkins was adamant that the tournament would not return to Sunriver anytime soon. “Between the disco ‘70’s condo that the Seattle guys got stuck with and the constant harassment of the marshals to play faster – even before we teed off – I found the hospitality here wanting at best,” said Jenkins. Candidates for the 1999 tournament include Portland, Montana, and British Columbia. Cheuk and Jenkins are expected to return as captains.

Overall Records

Seattle
Anderson 2-2-1 (-7)
Aro 3-1-1 (-.5)
Ashcraft 2-3 (-3.5)
Harrison 1-4 (-9.5)
Jenkins 2-2-1 (-9)
Johnson 3-2 (-7.5)
Kalian 2-3 (-2.5)
Majewski 3-1-1 (8.5)

World
Cheever 3-2 (15.5)
Cheuk 3-2 (7.5)
Fisher 0-4-1 (-7)
Gaston 2-2-1 (-1.5)
Nelson 3-2 (3.5)
Sharkey 1-3-1 (6.5)
Stonesifer 3-2 (4.5)
Waalkes 3-1-1 (3)

Results

Monday Morning – Fourball Match
Anderson/Majewski h. Gaston/Waalkes
Cheever/Stonesifer d. Ashcraft/Harrison 2&1
Jenkins/Aro h. Fisher/Sharkey
Nelson/Cheuk d. Johnson/Kalian 4&3
World leads 3-1

Monday Afternoon – Fourball Medal
Aro/Majewski d. Gaston/Sharkey 64-72
Stonesifer/Waalkes d. Ashcraft/Jenkins 73-74
Anderson/Kalian d. Fisher/Nelson 69-76
Cheever/Cheuk d. Harrison/Johnson 62-75
World leads 5-3

Tuesday Morning – Stableford
Cheuk/Gaston d. Kalian/Majewski 0-(-3)
Aro/Jenkins d. Fisher/Stonesifer 13-8 (best ball)
Ashcraft/Johnson d. Cheever/Sharkey (-6)-(-7)
Nelson/Waalkes d. Anderson/Harrison (-2)-(-3)
World leads 7-5

Tuesday Afternoon – Fourball Match
Anderson/Kalian d. Gaston/Waalkes 1 up
Aro/Jenkins d. Fisher/Sharkey 1 up
Ashcraft/Johnson d. Cheever/Stonesifer 2&1
Harrison/Majewski d. Cheuk/Nelson 2&1
Seattle leads 9-7

Wednesday Morning – Singles
Cheever (W) d. Jenkins (S) 5&4
Waalkes (W) d. Kalian (S) 2&1
Sharkey (W) d. Anderson (S) 6&5
Nelson (W) d. Aro (S) 3&2
Gaston (W) d. Harrison (S) 2&1
Majewski (S) d. Fisher (W) 2&1
Stonesifer (W) d. Ashcraft (S) 2&1
Johnson (S) d. Cheuk (W) 1 up
World wins 13-11