Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Andrew Tucker Reigns Supreme at 2009 Pineapple Cup!
North Myrtle Beach, SC (The Sporting News) – Andrew Tucker finally has his hands on the coveted Pineapple Cup. He never lost a match en route to capturing his first Pineapple Cup victory. His impressive play over three days was highlighted by a three under par 67 (net) at Pine Lakes C.C. In the overall matches, Tucker’s play helped Captain Buck’s squad to a victory over Team Yates.
An elated Tucker made an elaborate and enthusiastic acceptance speech: “First off, I would like to thank THE COMMITEE and especially Commissioner Carrington for putting on such a well run tournament. It is honestly one of the highlights of my year and it could not happen without you. Next, I would like to thank Bob and Nancy Wilson for providing such amazing accommodations and truly making the Pineapple Cup affordable and possible. Finally, I would like to thank Morgan’s wife for providing a never ending supply of jello shots and delicious good times.
On December 31, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. I sat down with a pad and paper and made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in the forthcoming year. By noon of the following day when the alcohol began to wear off, I realized that it would not be possible to make out with Megan Fox, get a cameo appearance on Family Guy, or use the crane to defeat Chuck Norris in a battle to the death, so I began marking things off of my list. After I was finished with the truly unrealistic goals for my 2009, only one item remained: Win the Pineapple Cup. What most do not realize, is that since that day I have not slept more than four hours in one night. I started to train my body for what I knew would be the greatest physical and mental challenge of my life. Training my body for the rigors that a champion must endure to claim such a prize. I would pound beers before and during work in order to teach myself how to perform day to day tasks while completely intoxicated. When fellow employees would see me funneling bourbon at my desk and question 'What are you doing?' I would simply point to the Pineapple Cup countdown clock and they would walk away in understanding. I would refuse to eat fruits and vegetables, because I knew that Myrtle Beach has a ban on such items and I didn’t want to be exposed to such foreign substances. People think I love Doritos, it's not true. I hate Doritos, I've just been forcing myself to build up a tolerance as I know they are one of the only items availble to eat in Myrtle. I would only go to restaurants where I was served by a 23 year old waitress with 3 kids ('Yeah, do the math').
I made it rain. Nightly. By the time April rolled around, I knew I was close, but there is more to becoming a PC champion than the ME factor. This is why I would now like to thank Captain Buck for believing in me enough to take me sixth overall. A lot of people felt that this was way too early in the draft. A lot of people were wrong. I would also like to thank my teammates with whom I had the honor of playing. Mark, that first nine holes was rough. When I wanted to kill those Mexicans for not getting off the greens while we were trying to hit, you calmed me by forcing numerous $4 bud lights down my throat.
Lindsay, when I missed ANOTHER 2 footer that would have given us ANOTHER sweep, you patted me on the back and gave words of encouragement as opposed to throwing the Futura into the nearest wood chipper. Gentleman, this trophy is part yours.
I’m not sure where the road will lead from here. I don’t think it will truly set in what I’ve accomplished until I get the trophy back from Larry at Troplex. When I see my name engraved on that beautiful piece of hardware, maybe then will I think about what I want to do with the rest of my golfing career and how fortunate I am to have this overhanging burden lifted off my shoulders. I do know one thing however: Through years of friendship, the hard work of our Commishioner, the intensity of the chosen Captains, and having it located in beautiful Myrtle Beach, we have created the greatest golf tournament in the world….and I am proud to be its Champion."
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Play in the 2009 Pineapple Cup officially began at 1:35 pm on Friday afternoon at the Grande Dunes Resort Course when Committee members Andrew Tucker and Mark Wilson struck their first tee shots. Friday’s weather was very nice, but a bit breezy with a 2-3 club wind all day long. Following is a summary of the day’s matches:
Match 1: Mark Wilson/Andrew Tucker v. Steve Riddick/Ghost(David Miller)
The first match got off to an inauspicious start for Team Yates when Riddick dunked his first two tee shots into the water off of the first tee. Tucker and Wilson managed to overcome the first tee jitters with tee shots down the middle. Unfortunately for Tucker, his jitters did not leave during the front nine play and he only cut Wilson on one hole. Mark Wilson was solid over the course of the front nine while Team Buck traded blows with Team Yates. Wilson/Tucker came to the 8th green with a 1 up lead and a chance to put away the front nine match. After striking a beautiful three wood to within fifteen feet of the hole on the long par three, Tucker had an opportunity to make birdie or par to put the front nine away. His birdie bid missed and Riddick refused to concede a rather short par putt. It turned out to be a good move as Tucker’s par bid never touched the hole. After David Miller’s 25-foot putt on the ninth green found the hole, the teams had halved the front nine match.
Match 1 saw little blood shed over the back nine until the 15th hole. There, Tucker found his putter and drained a 25-footer from off the green for a net birdie. His putt put Team Buck 1 up in the match and on the back nine. Tucker and Miller both made net birdies on the 16th to keep the match 1 up. On the 17th hole, Tucker’s drive found the hazard but was playable. He managed to advance his ball to a position to reach the green in regulation, which he did. His birdie bid stopped less than two feet from the hole. Riddick drained an 8 footer to make a net birdie on the hole and force Tucker to make his short putt to push the hole. Tucker’s reaction after striking his putt showed he knew he hit a very bad putt. Miraculously, his ball went in the back door and Team Buck maintained it’s 1 up lead going to the last hole. Riddick’s drive on 18 went out-of-bounds and he was done for the nine. Tucker/Wilson made pars on the last. Miller was unable to make a birdie and Team Buck had survived a grueling back nine to win 1 up.
Match 2: Lindsay Carrington/Andrew Ward v. Jeff Wilson/Ghost(Tug Maude)
Friday’s second match went Team Yates’ way from the outset when Wilson won the first hole with a net bogey. Consecutive three putts from Carrington on the next two holes increased Team Yates’ lead to 3 up thru 3. Throughout the front nine, Jeff Wilson played like a veteran and would not open the door for Carrington/Ward. When he did make a mistake, such as a three putt bogey on the par 3 14th hole, his partner helped out with the halve. Team Buck managed a win on the fifteenth hole to cut the lead to two. However, on the very next hole, Jeff Wilson got up and down from 110 yards for a net birdie. With his 10 foot putt, Jeff Wilson posted the first points of the 2009 Pineapple Cup. His stellar wedge play was not done. On the par 5 17th hole, Jeff Wilson hit a 95 yard wedge shot to 13 feet and Team Yates went 4 up for the match.
Team Buck looked to make a comeback on the back nine when Ward won the tenth hole with a net birdie and trimmed the lead to 3. Carrington narrowly missed a birdie bid on the eleventh hole. Nevertheless, Team Buck felt a little momentum building. It would not last. Tug made an impressive birdie at the 11th and the match was back to 4 up. Then, Team Yates won the 12th when Jeff Wilson made a 4 footer for a net birdie, now 5 up. Team Buck lost the 13th as well and the overall match was over, 6&5. The back nine match also ended early when Carrington’s birdie bid on the 16th failed to find the hole. The first sweep of 2009 had been completed.
Match 3: Morgan Dowtin/Wes Argabrte v. Alex Yates/David Miller
Match 3 was a see-saw battle. Yates/Miller were first to strike blood with a par on the 2nd hole. However, Team Buck countered by winning three of the next four holes. Team Yates narrowed the lead to 1 up with a solid par on seven. They squared the match on the long par 3 8th hole. Morgan and Miller halved the difficult 9th with net birdies. Over the course of the front nine, each team won three holes.
The see-saw continued when each team won the 10th and 11th and kept the match all square. Finally, on the 13th, Team Buck seized control of the match when Morgan made a net birdie on the long par 5. Morgan built momentum and Team Buck’s lead over the next two holes with birdies. Suddenly, Team Yates found themselves 3 down with 3 to play. Miller made a crucial net birdie on the 16th to force Team Buck to match. Morgan Dowtin did just that and rolled in his fourth birdie in a row to close the overall match and the back side.
Match 4: Buck Williams/Boone Smith v. Tug Maude/Steven Riddick
The final match of the day saw Team Buck take a 1 up lead after the first hole. They maintained that advantage until both players took costly double bogeys on the par 3 14th (second hole of the day). Buck broke the deadlock with a birdie on the seventh hole. Team Buck poured in two more wins and stood 3 up at the turn.
Team Yates regrouped at the turn and won the first two holes of the back nine. Buck again found his putting range when he holed a 40 footer for birdie at the 12th. Team Buck was back up 2. Team Yates answered with birdie at the next and cut the lead to one. Buck’s approach to the short par 4 15th set up a winning birdie and put the squeeze on Team Yates. Tug/Tommy won the side and forced the match to the last hole with a win at the 17th. However, Team Yates could not win the last and Team Buck had won the overall match.
At the end of the first day of play, Team Buck had a 7-5 edge over Team Yates. Certainly this is no small margin to overcome for Team Yates, especially in light of the arrival of two of his better players. Tomorrow’s action kicks off at 7:27 at Pine Lakes C.C.
Match 1: Mark Wilson/Andrew Tucker v. Steve Riddick/Ghost(David Miller)
The first match got off to an inauspicious start for Team Yates when Riddick dunked his first two tee shots into the water off of the first tee. Tucker and Wilson managed to overcome the first tee jitters with tee shots down the middle. Unfortunately for Tucker, his jitters did not leave during the front nine play and he only cut Wilson on one hole. Mark Wilson was solid over the course of the front nine while Team Buck traded blows with Team Yates. Wilson/Tucker came to the 8th green with a 1 up lead and a chance to put away the front nine match. After striking a beautiful three wood to within fifteen feet of the hole on the long par three, Tucker had an opportunity to make birdie or par to put the front nine away. His birdie bid missed and Riddick refused to concede a rather short par putt. It turned out to be a good move as Tucker’s par bid never touched the hole. After David Miller’s 25-foot putt on the ninth green found the hole, the teams had halved the front nine match.
Match 1 saw little blood shed over the back nine until the 15th hole. There, Tucker found his putter and drained a 25-footer from off the green for a net birdie. His putt put Team Buck 1 up in the match and on the back nine. Tucker and Miller both made net birdies on the 16th to keep the match 1 up. On the 17th hole, Tucker’s drive found the hazard but was playable. He managed to advance his ball to a position to reach the green in regulation, which he did. His birdie bid stopped less than two feet from the hole. Riddick drained an 8 footer to make a net birdie on the hole and force Tucker to make his short putt to push the hole. Tucker’s reaction after striking his putt showed he knew he hit a very bad putt. Miraculously, his ball went in the back door and Team Buck maintained it’s 1 up lead going to the last hole. Riddick’s drive on 18 went out-of-bounds and he was done for the nine. Tucker/Wilson made pars on the last. Miller was unable to make a birdie and Team Buck had survived a grueling back nine to win 1 up.
Match 2: Lindsay Carrington/Andrew Ward v. Jeff Wilson/Ghost(Tug Maude)
Friday’s second match went Team Yates’ way from the outset when Wilson won the first hole with a net bogey. Consecutive three putts from Carrington on the next two holes increased Team Yates’ lead to 3 up thru 3. Throughout the front nine, Jeff Wilson played like a veteran and would not open the door for Carrington/Ward. When he did make a mistake, such as a three putt bogey on the par 3 14th hole, his partner helped out with the halve. Team Buck managed a win on the fifteenth hole to cut the lead to two. However, on the very next hole, Jeff Wilson got up and down from 110 yards for a net birdie. With his 10 foot putt, Jeff Wilson posted the first points of the 2009 Pineapple Cup. His stellar wedge play was not done. On the par 5 17th hole, Jeff Wilson hit a 95 yard wedge shot to 13 feet and Team Yates went 4 up for the match.
Team Buck looked to make a comeback on the back nine when Ward won the tenth hole with a net birdie and trimmed the lead to 3. Carrington narrowly missed a birdie bid on the eleventh hole. Nevertheless, Team Buck felt a little momentum building. It would not last. Tug made an impressive birdie at the 11th and the match was back to 4 up. Then, Team Yates won the 12th when Jeff Wilson made a 4 footer for a net birdie, now 5 up. Team Buck lost the 13th as well and the overall match was over, 6&5. The back nine match also ended early when Carrington’s birdie bid on the 16th failed to find the hole. The first sweep of 2009 had been completed.
Match 3: Morgan Dowtin/Wes Argabrte v. Alex Yates/David Miller
Match 3 was a see-saw battle. Yates/Miller were first to strike blood with a par on the 2nd hole. However, Team Buck countered by winning three of the next four holes. Team Yates narrowed the lead to 1 up with a solid par on seven. They squared the match on the long par 3 8th hole. Morgan and Miller halved the difficult 9th with net birdies. Over the course of the front nine, each team won three holes.
The see-saw continued when each team won the 10th and 11th and kept the match all square. Finally, on the 13th, Team Buck seized control of the match when Morgan made a net birdie on the long par 5. Morgan built momentum and Team Buck’s lead over the next two holes with birdies. Suddenly, Team Yates found themselves 3 down with 3 to play. Miller made a crucial net birdie on the 16th to force Team Buck to match. Morgan Dowtin did just that and rolled in his fourth birdie in a row to close the overall match and the back side.
Match 4: Buck Williams/Boone Smith v. Tug Maude/Steven Riddick
The final match of the day saw Team Buck take a 1 up lead after the first hole. They maintained that advantage until both players took costly double bogeys on the par 3 14th (second hole of the day). Buck broke the deadlock with a birdie on the seventh hole. Team Buck poured in two more wins and stood 3 up at the turn.
Team Yates regrouped at the turn and won the first two holes of the back nine. Buck again found his putting range when he holed a 40 footer for birdie at the 12th. Team Buck was back up 2. Team Yates answered with birdie at the next and cut the lead to one. Buck’s approach to the short par 4 15th set up a winning birdie and put the squeeze on Team Yates. Tug/Tommy won the side and forced the match to the last hole with a win at the 17th. However, Team Yates could not win the last and Team Buck had won the overall match.
At the end of the first day of play, Team Buck had a 7-5 edge over Team Yates. Certainly this is no small margin to overcome for Team Yates, especially in light of the arrival of two of his better players. Tomorrow’s action kicks off at 7:27 at Pine Lakes C.C.
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