2014 El Diablo | cidercup

“El Diablo”

The 2nd Annual Cider Cup started with much better weather than the 1st, but as you will see, a devilish storm was brewing for the unassuming Old Guys team. Unlike last year, the Old Guys team was considerably more stylish with Cider Cup hats and several volunteering to purchase gray pullovers. The Young Guys were in “controversial” white pullovers selected by Joseph Ammerman and along with their inspirational Vice-Captain Chase Wachter, they once again pull off the advantage in the uniform department, but only by a slim margin.

The Old Guys had a couple of wardrobe malfunctions (where were Lenox and McIlvain’s Cider Cup Hats?) as you will see in this enhanced photo below which led to their slim defeat.

Speaking of “Homeless” Dave McIlvain, he looked less homeless this year, but not by much. (See pic below2013 and 2014) I will say this…as his Captain and teammate, by having 3 Wins, 0 Losses and 1 Tie he is allowed to look homeless all he wants.

As a show of good sportsmanship, both teams exchanged tee-gifts that included flavored coffee, apple cider, golf balls, hot hands and once again some Jim Beam bourbon products that were much less of a factor due to the absence of Frank Henson.

The Young Guys were understandably pumped up as their inspirational Vice Captain Chase Wachter arrived to lend moral support. The Old Guys tried to counter with some motivation of their own, but it just wasn’t the same. Earlier in the week, Mike Buis was replaced with Brad Marshall due to health issues and while trying to use this as inspiration, it only left all of us hungry for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

You may be wondering by now, why this article is entitled “El Diablo”. El Diablo is Spanish for The Devil and as far as I’m concerned, there is a player on the Young Guys team that is just that….The Devil. His name – Rob Ogden.

“El Diablo” was 2 down with 3 to go and escaped from hitting his ball behind a tree on 7 to halve the hole and continue the match. He was 2 down with 2 to go and made a 10 foot downhill, slider on 8 to win the hole and he needed a 16 foot downhill putt on the final hole for birdie and a halve. As his putt motored toward the hole, it somehow missed every bump and poured into the cup for a half point. If that’s not the work of Lucifer, I don’t know what is!

To further prove my point:

Ogden has played in 8 matches in the 2 years of the Cider Cup’s existence and has lost only once.
He forced Joseph Ammerman to perform some sort of “El Diablo Drinking Challenge” just prior to teeing off.
And just look at all of the Young Guys in this photo looking like they’re in some Satanic trance…even poor Robbie Cox looks as if he’s come face to face with pure evil.

As Day 1 competition began, the participants went into battle playing 2-Man Best Ball. The team of Lenox/Marshall halved with Letcher/Ogden as did McIlvain/Biancke who halved against Ammerman/Thornton. The Young Guys teams of Henson/B.Bishop, Whalen/Gossett and Miles/Ashbrook carded full points, while the duo of Kennedy/Cox earned the only full point for the Old Guys.

As the teams regrouped and went out for Alternate Shot, the Old Guys found themselves in a hole, down 4 to 2. The Old Guys rallied with an early win from Sparks/McIlvain, a half from Lenox/Marshall and a Caudill/Box victory. The Young Guns responded and took 2 of the final 3 matches with wins from Whalen/Thornton and Ogden/Gossett. Gary Varner and Larry Turner defeated Stephen McCauley/Joe Ammerman and at the end of Day 1, the score was 6 ½ to 5 ½ in favor of the Youngsters.

Several players from both teams went to dinner in Paris, KY that evening. The Old Guys went to Clay’s, while the Young Guys went to Bour-Bons. This proved to be a great evening as friendships were formed and other than several of the wives being cited for disorderly conduct and McCauley thinking Steak Tartare was a “Steak with Frisch’s Tartar Sauce”, a good time was had by all.

Day 2 began with great weather, but an “El Diablo” storm was brewing on the horizon. As the 2 Man Scramble competition began, Lenox/Marshall garnered the 1st point tying the “Cup” at 6 ½ and when the “Slappy Brothers” Varner/McIlvain won their match, the Old Guys were up 7 ½ to 6 ½ . The team of McCauley/”You know who” won their match as did Whalen/Thornton, Miles/B.Bishop and Letcher/Ammerman making the score 10 ½ to 7 ½ in favor of McCauley’s squad heading into the singles.

Just like last year, the Old Farts found themselves with their backs against the wall heading into the singles, needing to win 8 of the 12 matches to win the Cider Cup for the 2nd year in a row. Needing a fast start, the team responded.

Varner defeats Henson: Old Guys (8 ½ ) Young Guys (10 ½ )

Lenox halves Whalen: Old Guys (9) Young Guys (11) *Whalen down 2 with 2 to go and Lenox hits wrong ball.

McIlvain defeats Letcher: Old Guys (10) Young Guys (11)

Cox loses to Miles: Old Guys (10) Young Guys (12)

Kennedy halves MCauley: Old Guys (10 ½ ) Young Guys (12 ½ ) *McCauley down 2 with 2 to go.

Turner halves Ammerman: Old Guys (11) Young Guys (13)

Sparks halves El Diablo: Old Guys (11 ½ ) Young Guys (13 ½ ) *Ogden down 2 with 2 to go.

Caudill halves Gossett: Old Guys (12) Young Guys (14) *Gossett down 2 with 2 to go.

Box defeats Ashbrook: Old Guys (13) Young Guys (14)

Marshall loses to B.Bishop: Old Guys (13) Young Guys (15)

The Young Guys had held off the Old Guys by coming back in 4 matches where they found themselves 2 down with 2 to go. Hank Whalen, Stephen McCauley, Tyler Gossett and El Diablo each fought back to earn a half point for their squad. Had the Old Guys been able to close out 2 of those 4 matches, they would still own the Cup.

At this point, we need to insert a Public Service Announcement:

Can someone send to Alice Lenox? Could make a great Christmas gift for a certain someone.

Back to the action. So with 2 matches still on the course, the Young Guys needed but a half point to win it while the Old Guys found themselves still somehow alive. As both matches headed to the final hole, Biancke/Thornton and Kinsey/C.Bishop were all square. It should be noted here that Biancke ran his par putt on #8 about 4 feet past the hole and had he missed the downhill bogey attempt the matches would be over. (Captain Sparks decided not to divulge that information until long after Charlie made the putt) The crowds gathered in the fairway and around the green to watch the final groups come home.

Kinsey defeats C.Bishop: Old Guys (14) Young Guys (15)

It now came down to Biancke/Thornton. If Biancke could pull off the win, it would result in an overall tie which meant a “Sudden Death Playoff”. Of course with El Diablo still lurking, the “Sudden Death” thing wasn’t sounding so good. Anyway, Biancke needs to sink a 16 foot birdie putt to win the match against Thornton and force the tie. As it misses (on the pro side, I might add), I am reminded of this photo taken earlier. It shows both Thornton and Biancke on #9 watching the action unfold. Is this a precursor of things to come? Thornton seems focused and calm, somehow knowing that the “Cup” will come down to him and he welcomes the pressure. His opponent however, is yammering with Joe Henson about why Lenox never lets him mow the greens anymore since the Club purchased the new mower.

Advantage – Thornton.

Biancke loses to Thornton: Old Guys (14) Young Guys (16)

When the dust settled, the Young Guys had wrestled the Cider Cup away from the Old Guys in a great battle.

The winners decided to give the money to the 3 young girls who’d lost their mother, home and belongings just a couple weeks ago in a murder/fire tragedy. As all of us would agree, it’s an incredibly worthy cause.

To sum up the 2nd Cider Cup, it was once again a resounding success. I heard the rookies saying that they they’d heard players talking about the Cider Cup, but didn’t really envision how much fun it would be until they actually participated. Now they’re hooked. The Cider Cup provided some needed revenue to the club as well as some beverage companies. It fostered some new friendships within our golfing community. It generated $540 for charity and to date the Cider Cup has given back $860 locally. (It would have been $880 but the LGA charged us $20 because Chase parked his wheelchair on their monkey grass)

Last but not least, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

Thanks to all that participated. I’m already looking forward to 2015!

Ray Sparks

Ogden has played in 8 matches in the 2 years of the Cider Cup’s existence and has lost only once.

And just look at all of the Young Guys in this photo looking like they’re in some Satanic trance…even poor Robbie Cox looks as if he’s come face to face with pure evil.