World Team

Simon Birrell

Years: 2011
Record: 3-2 (.600) overall; 1-0 singles
History: 2011 (3-2)
GHIN: ____ (__)
Longtime crony of World Team’s O’Brien … Joined World Team in 2011 after trying to get in field for several years … One of longest hitters in the United States … currrently the 142nd-ranked longest driver in the world … hit four iron over the par-4 16th at Bandon Dunes — four times … with O’Brien, forms Two Tons o’ Fun, V2 … currently resides in Los Angeles.
Greg Cheever

Years: 1998-2011
Record: 34-32-4 (.514) overall; 7-5-2 singles
History: 1998 (3-2, 15.5); 1999 (2-2-1, 2); 2000 (4-1, 8); 2001 (1-4, -6.5); 2002 (1-2-2, 1.5); 2003 (2-3,
-7); 2004 (3-2, -8.5); 2005 (1-4); 2006 (2-3); 2007 (1-4); 2008 (3-2); 2009 (5-0); 2010 (4-1); 2011 (2-2-1)
GHIN: 4979345 (M, 32)
Captain of 2004-09 World Team squads . . . natural right hander plays left handed, but similarity to Phil
Mickelson’s game ends there… defeated Seattle’s Jenkins 7 and 5 in 1998 singles to start World comeback… wrapped lob wedge around golf cart at Harvest Club in 2000 match after lob wedge failed to lob… member of The Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville…since 1998 has reshaped the banana-ball slice masquerading as a power-fade into occasional straight/draw.

Norman Cheuk

Years: 1998-2011
Record: 35-30-5 (.536) overall; 7-6-1 singles
History: 1998 (3-2, 7.5); 1999 (1-4, -.5); 2000 (4-1, 15); 2001 (4-1, -2.5); 2002 (3-2, 2); 2003 (2-2-1,
-5.5); 2004 (2-3, -9.5); 2005 (1-3-1); 2006 (3-2); 2007 (2-2-1); 2008 (3-1-1); 2009 (3-2); 2010 (2-3); 2011 (2-2-1)
GHIN: 5743759 (L, 34)
Four-time captain (2-2) and, along with Jenkins, co-founder of Cup… streaky player can make birdies and double bogeys aplenty… added 15 yards off tee in 2001… solid scrambler gets lots of practice in out of the way areas… “Norm Factor” – luck – gives him two-shot edge on opponent before first tee… lost to opposing captain Jenkins three times in 2000 Seattle victory.

Jon Gaston

Years: 1998-2000, 2003-08, 2010-11
Record: 24-26-5 (.481) overall; 4-6-1 singles
History: 1998 (2-2-1, -1.5); 1999 (2-2-1, 1.5); 2000 (4-1, -.5); 2003 (2-3, -11.5); 2004 (2-2-1, 0); 2005
(1-4); (2-2-1); 2007 (3-2); 2008 (1-4); 2010 (4-1); 2011 (1-3-1)
GHIN: 4924362
Charter tournament member returned in 2003 after two-year absence . . . along with teammates Cheuk and
Cheever, went 4-1 in 2000 Cup . . . in the fairway one of the faster players in the field, but on the green – well, it’s a different story . . . member at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, WA.

Stefan Gran

Years: 2007-11
Record: 11-11-3 (.500) overall; 3-2 singles
History: 2007 (4-1); 2008 (0-4-1); 2009 (4-1); 2010 (2-3); 2011 (1-2-2)
GHIN: ___
Long-time friend of Paul Sharkey recruited in 2007 as World Team’s token brown guy … Average player but puts it together on occasion … Self described “best dressed” player on either team .. easily intimidated … Counts 7&5 win (with Paul Sharkey) over Jeff Benezra and Nick Jenkins in 2007 as his biggest win … Member of Rancho Murieta Country Club in Sacramento.

Leo Madden

Years: 2001-10
Record: 25-21-4 (.540)
History: 2001 (3-1-1, 3.5); 2002 (3-2, 11.5); 2003 (3-2, 1.75); 2004 (2-3, 2.5); 2005 (1-2-2); 2006
(1-4); 2007 (1-3-1); 2008 (4-1); 2009 (4-1); 2010 (3-2)
GHIN: 5274696
Added to World Team in 2001… along with fellow Irishman Patten, only truly "world" player on
World Team …unspectacular off the tee… above average short game… match play fanatic… strong supporter of the European Team in Ryder Cup… member of Sahalee Country Club in Redmond.

Brad Nelson

Years: 1998-2006, 2008-09, 2011
Record: 31-24-5 (.558) overall; 9-2-1 singles
History: 1998 (3-2, 3.5); 1999 (4-1, 1); 2000 (3-2, 0); 2001 (3-2, 9.5); 2002 (2-2-1, -2.5); 2003 (2-2-1,
3.25); 2004 (2-3, -.25); 2005 (2-3); 2006 (2-3); 2008 (3-2); 2009 (3-1-1); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: 4924361 (35, L)
World Team captain in 2003 . . . one of fastest players in tournament… vulnerable to the oft employed-,
slow it down-, Pat Riley-style of golf favored by Seattle team… suffered through very public and losing battle with swing in 2001 yet managed 3-2 record… received warning from tournament officials in 2001 not to return with C. Everett Koop-like chin growth on face, considered unsportsmanly distraction to opponents.

Tim O’Brien

Years: 2001-02, 2004-11
Record: 27-18-5 (.590) overall; 2-7-1 singles
History: 2001 (3-2, 1.5); 2002 (2-3, -3); 2004 (2-3, -13); 2005 (3-1-1); 2006 (3-2); 2007 (2-2-1); 2008 (5-0); 2009 (4-1); 2010 (1-3-1); 2011 (2-1-2)
GHIN: 7536812
Tallest and heaviest Greenspanner . . . Hits Chiquita-esque banana slice with all clubs save putter . . . Self proclaimed “one of top five lag putters in Greenspan history” . . . In ’11 came back from a four-down deficit with Stephan Gran against Aro/Jenkins only to miss an eighteen-inch putt on 18 that would have won the match … In ’08, became third player in Greenspan history to sport perfect 5-0 record, winning three matches on Norm Factor (according to Norm) . . . Won nine straight matches from 2008 to 2009 . . . Greatest win to date was ’02 victory with Waalkes in fourball over Sandbags Scoccolo . . . Known to stop swing midway upon any sign of cart girl . . . Member of prestigious Jefferson Park Golf Club.

Brian Patten

Years: 2003-05, 2007, 2009-10
Record: 14-13-8 (.514) overall; 4-0-3 singles
History: 2003 (1-3-1, -8.75); 2004 (1-1-3, -1.25); 2005 (2-2-1); 2007 (2-1-2); 2009 (1-4); 2010 (4-1); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: 0700452
Joined World Team in 2003 . . . played well in rookie campaign but still managed just a 1-3-1 record . . .
expected alliance with teammate Madden never materialized in 2003 after surprise 5&4 loss to Haight/McQuaid in Friday morning Fourball . . . like Madden, originally hails from Ireland . . . owns Willows Run and Druids Glen golf clubs and the restaurant at Riverbend Golf Club.

Paul Sharkey

Years: 1998-2002, 2005-11
Record: 28-25-7 (.525) overall; 5-5-2 singles
History: 1998 (1-3-1, 6.5); 1999 (3-2, 2); 2000 (2-3, -5.5); 2001 (4-1, 17.5); 2002 (1-3-1, -3.5); 2005
(2-1-2); 2006 (4-1); 2007 (2-3); 2008 (0-4-1); 2009 (1-3-1); 2010 (5-0); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: ?
Current captain of World Team . . . captained World’s 21½-14½ win over Seattle in ’09 . . . classic grinder… very streaky, can play like a 5 or 20 (lately, more the latter) … from 1998-2000 played against Seattle’s Aro seven times, going 4-2-1 in that stretch… teamed with Tim O’Brien to go 3-0 in 2001… involved in controversial rules incident with Seattle’s Scoccolo in 2001 singles match, a match he (Sharkey) eventually won 4 and 3… member at Royal Oaks in Vancouver, WA… longtime Cheuk crony.

Ben Smith

Years: 2010-11
Record: 3-7 (.300) overall; 1-1 singles
History: 2010 (2-3); 2011 (1-4)
GHIN: ___ (_, __)
Joined World Team in ’10 as replacement for Matt Beaton … 2-3 record probably not accurate reflection of play … Along with Cheever, probably World’s top grinders … On losing end of singles slugfest versus Seattle captain Jenkins in ’10… Has played Bandon Dunes 20+ times, far more than anyone on either team … Tommy Armour III-ish backswing (read: short) … Along with Stonesifer, member of the Members Club at Aldarra.

Rob Stonesifer

Years: 1998-2011
Record: 21-42-7 (.350) overall; 4-9-1 singles (
History: 1998 (3-2, 4.5); 1999 (5-0, 12.5); 2000 (2-3, -5.5); 2001 (2-3, -4.5); 2002 (0-3-2, -7.5); 2003
(1-4, -3); 2004 (0-4-1, -11.5); 2005 (2-2-1); 2006 (1-4); 2007 (1-4); 2008 (2-1-2); 2009 (1-4); 2010 (1-4); 2011 (0-4-1)
GHIN: 2576096
Former Redmond resident now living in West Seattle… brings emotional consistency to sometimes mercurial World team… owner of longest winning streak in Cup history (eight matches)… streak ended with partner Cheuk in loss to Aro/Harrison, generally considered biggest upset in Cup history… went 5-0 in 1999 Cup … independent filmmaker (girlfriend unaware) with new project “Beverage Cart Girls of the Okanagan: 2002.

Adam Waalkes

Years: 1998-2011
Record: 31-28-11 (.521) overall; 7-3-4 singles
History: 1998 (3-1-1, 3); 1999 (3-2, 2); 2000 (2-3, -10.5); 2001 (2-1-2, 3); 2002 (1-3-1, -5); 2003
(1-3-1, -9.5); 2004 (0-4-1, -11.5); 2005 (4-1); 2006 (1-4); 2007 (2-2-1); 2008 (2-1-2); 2009 (3-1-1); 2010 (3-1-1); 2011 (3-1-1)
GHIN: 5541365 (L, 36))
Gutty shot maker… no natural golf talent to speak of… consistency not a strength… hits hooks, draws,
fades and slices with no apparent rhyme or reason… no environmentalist, known to take frustration with game out on nearby trees… mental toughness, competitive nature and sheer bossiness made him obvious choice to succeed Cheuk as World Team captain in 2001… beat opposing coach Johnson twice to set tone for widest victory margin in Cup history… member at Plateau Golf and Country Club.