Seattle Team
Max Anderson
Residence: Seattle, WA (Laurelhurst)
Years: 1998-2011
Record: 39-25-6 (.600) overall; 7-5-2 singles
History: 1998 (2-2-1, -7); 1999 (3-2, 1); 2000 (2-3, -1); 2001 (4-1, 5); 2002 (3-1-1, 8.5); 2003 (4-0-1, 9.75); 2004 (2-3, -6.5); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (4-1); 2007 (4-1); 2008 (2-3); 2009 (2-3); 2010 (3-2); 2011 (2-1-2)
GHIN: 5332641 (M)
Extreme length off tee matched by extreme wildness… used to get airborne on tee shots, but no so much since he hit 40 . . . frequent partner of Deandre and Harrison… best record on Seattle team in 2001, 2006 and 2007 (4-1)… only player on either team to have tinted his hair… early 6&5 drubbing at hands of Sharkey in 1998 singles precipitated roaring Sunday comeback by World.
Joel Aro
Residence: Seattle, WA (Belltown)
Years: 1998-2011
Record: 30-32-8 (.485) overall; 6-7-1 singles
History: 1998 (3-1-1, -.5); 1999 (0-5, -13); 2000 (2-2-1, 5.5); 2001 (1-3-1, -18); 2002 (2-3, -1.5); 2003 (2-2-1, 1); 2004 (3-1-1, 13); 2005 (0-4-1); 2006 (3-2); 2007 (1-3-1); 2008 (3-1-1); 2009 (4-1); 2010 (3-2); 2011 (2-1-2)
GHIN: 5885038 (XL, 36)
Temperamental and streaky veteran who has played in every Cup since inception… 4-1 performance in 2009 best Cup performance (three of the wins came paired with captain and longtime crony Jenkins) . . . lost seven straight matches over two Cups (1999-2000)… came to life in 2000 Cup with 3 consecutive wins, culminating with the thumping of previously unbeaten rookie Nick Perovich in singles… with partner Harrison, defeat of Cheuk/Stonesifer in 2000 Chapman alternate shot considered one of great upsets in Cup history.
Jeff Benezra
Residence: Seattle, WA (Queen Anne)
Years: 2001, 2003, 2005-11
Record: 19-23-3 (.455) overall; 4-5 singles
History: 2001 (3-2, 1.5); 2003 (2-3, .25); 2005 (2-3); 2006 (3-2); 2007 (2-2-1); 2008 (2-2-1); 2009 (1-3-1); 2010 (2-3); 2011 (2-3)
GHIN: 5936385 (L)
Paid for team slot in 2002 and 2004 and played in neither of them … added to team two days before tournament as replacement for Paul Maier… played well under rookie pressure, notching three wins, including 2 and 1 singles victory over Ed Garth… swing speed often compared to Dottie Pepper (formerly Dottie Mochrie)… sways like the Tacoma Narrowest Bridge . . . at 4.1, was team’s second-lowest index in ’09 . . . would win MTO award (Most Talkative Opponent) if there was such award.
Vince Deandre
Residence: Spokane, WA (relocated from Seattle in 2008)
Years: 2000-11
Profession: Custom home renovations
Record: 31-22-7 (.575) overall; 6-4-2 singles
History: 2000 (3-1-1, 1); 2001 (3-2, 7); 2002 (3-0-2, 8.5); 2003 (4-1, 16.5); 2004 (3-1-1, 9.25); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (3-2); 2007 (4-1); 2008 (1-3-1); 2009 (2-3); 2010 (1-4); 2011 (2-2-1)
GHIN: 6299866 (L, 32)
With teammate Haight, unofficial co-MVP of 2000 Cup… saved victory with miraculous sidehill chip on 18th at Bear in Merrill Lynch Shot of the Tournament… drubbed O’Brien 5&4 in 2001 Great Singles Match That Wasn’t… frequent partner of Anderson… long off tee and outstanding iron player… average with flat stick …. father of three, including twins.
Jeff Haight
Residence: Bellevue, WA
Years: 1999-2010
Record: 25-29-6 (.467)
History: 1999 (2-3, -1.5); 2000 (4-1, 4.5); 2001 (0-4-1, -3); 2002 (1-2-2, -9); 2003 (4-1, 8.5); 2004 (2-2-1, 2); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (2-3); 2007 (4-0-1); 2008 (1-4); 2009 (0-5); 2010 (3-2)
GHIN: 6434096 (M, 32)
Along with teammate Deandre co-MVP of 2000 Cup (4-1) … involved in only three matches from 1999-2001 not decided on either 17th or 18th hole . . . played in ’06 Cup just hours after receiving blood transfusion for treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma . . . Unofficial hero of ’07 Cup after net-birdie on first playoff hole clinched Seattle’s sixth straight win . . . Won three matches with Mike Waldner that year . . . Currently suffering through nine-match losing streak, tied for worst streak in Cup history . . . frequent partner of Dave Sturtevant . . . member of Overlake Country Club.
John Harrison
Residence: Seattle, WA
Years: 1998-2011
Record: 25-38-7 (.407) overall; 3-9-2 singles
History: 1998 (1-4, -9.5); 1999 (1-4, -5); 2000 (2-2-1, -3.5); 2001 (1-3-1, -3.5); 2002 (3-1-1, -1.5); 2003 (2-3, -6); 2004 (1-2-2, -8); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (4-1); 2007 (1-4); 2008 (2-3); 2009 (2-3); 2010 (0-5); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: 5957980 (M)
Charter member of Seattle team… game improved 9 strokes from 2000 to 2002… in 1999, choked Bernhard Langer-style on 2-foot putt at Predator to turn win into halve… made up for 1999 the following year with clutch three footer on 18 at Quail to salvage halve . . frequent partner with Aro (2-3-1 record through 2001)… solid overall game helped by Pavlovian commitment to driver.
Nick Jenkins
Residence: Seattle, WA (Laurelhurst)(family blog)
Years: 1998-2011
Record: 32-29-9 (.521) overall; 8-6 singles
History: 1998 (2-2-1, -9); 1999 (3-2, 2); 2000 (2-2-1, 1.5); 2001 (2-3, 5); 2002 (1-4, -9); 2003 (1-3-1, -.75); 2004 (2-1-2, 1); 2005 (3-1-1); 2006 (2-3); 2007 (2-3); 2008 (2-2-1); 2009 (4-1); 2010 (4-1); 2011 (2-1-2)
GHIN: 5027865 (L, 32)
Along with World’s Cheuk, co-founder of the Cup… eleven-time captain of Seattle Team (6-5 overall record)… beat rival captain Cheuk three times in 1999 … 2000 singles loss to Joel Marcus after being 5-up through 10 ranks among biggest chokes in Cup history … 9&7 singles win over Jon Gaston in ’08 ranks as biggest singles blowout in Cup history . . . 5&4 win over O’Brien in ’09 singles ended the latter’s nine-match winning streak . . . self-described toughest mental player in field… outstanding iron player and streaky putter… tends to peak before tournament and valley during it.
Jack Laidlaw
Residence: Redmond, WA
Years: 2002-06, 2008-11
Record: 15-27-3 (.367) overall; 3-6 singles
History: 2002 (2-2-1, -1.5); 2003 (3-1-1, 11.5); 2004 (1-4, -2.75); 2005 (3-2); 2006 (1-4); 2008 (3-2); 2009 (1-4); 2010 (1-4); 2011 (0-4-1)
GHIN: 7698269 (M)
Joined Seattle Team in 2002 as last-minute replacement for Benezra . . . Emerged in 2003 as most improved player in field . . . outstanding natural athlete . . . “Kirkpatrick” long off tee although, like Tiger, not quite as long as he used to be . . . went undefeated when paired with Deandre in 2003 . . . shaky iron play and even shakier putter keeps him from single digit handicap . . . only player on either team with permatan.
Randy Price
Residence: Bellevue, WA
Years: 2010-11
Record: 3-6-1 (.350) overall; 0-2 singles
History: 2010 (2-3); 2011 (1-3-1)
GHIN: ?? (L)
Joined Seattle Team in 2010 … Teamed with Dave Sturtevant to defeat Leo Madden and Brian Patton 3&2 in 2010 Friday morning fourball, still considered one of the greatest single-match upsets in recent years … 2-0 record in Friday morning matches through 2011, but cools considerably as Cup goes on … Longtime professional acquaintance of World Team’s Cheuk.
Tony Secretario
Residence: Seattle, WA (West Seattle)
Years: 2003-11
Record: 20-19-6(.511) overall; 4-2-3 singles
History: 2003 (4-1, 3); 2004 (2-3, .75); 2005 (4-1); 2006 (1-3-1); 2007 (2-3); 2008 (1-2-2); 2009 (1-3-1); 2010 (2-2-1); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: 7112851 (L)
Newcomer to Cup in 2003 . . . after losing first match won next four in a row, including nailbiting 1-up victory over Stonesifer in Sunday singles . . . 4-1 record best ever for Cup rookie . . . longtime offcourse acquaintance of Laidlaw.
Mike Waldner
Residence: Seattle, WA (West Seattle)
Years: 2000-11
Record: 30-24-6 (.550) overall; 3-8-1 singles
History: 2000 (2-3, 5); 2001 (2-2-1, 10); 2002 (3-1-1, 3); 2003 (3-2, -4.75); 2004 (2-3, 0); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (4-1); 2007 (4-1); 2008 (2-2-1); 2009 (1-3-1); 2010 (3-1-1); 2011 (2-3)
GHIN: 710500
Arguably longest player and best natural talent in tournament… frequently partnered with Scoccolo during latter’s ten-year career … lost to Thilo/Gaston paired with Kirkpatrick in 2000 alternate shot Chapman match, still considered one of Cup’s greatest upsets… 5&4 drubbing of Gaston in 2000 singles considered victory for fast players everywhere… member at Riverbend Golf Club … played college golf at New Mexico State along with PGA Tour player Rich Beem.
Steve Whitaker
Residence: Idaho
Years: 2004, 2009, 2011
Record: 7-6-2 (.533) overall; 0-1-2 singles
History: 2004 (2-2-1), 2009 (2-2-1); 2011 (3-2)
GHIN: ? (XL)
Joined Seattle Team in 2004 as replacement for Benezra and returned in ’09 after a four-year hiatus . . . ace at Desert Canyon’s 14th hole was first hole in one in Cup history . . . softest spoken player on a team of loudmouths . . . won 2.5 points in both appearances . . . along with Jenkins, arguably slowest player in field over the ball . . . assistant volleyball coach at University of Idaho.
