2010: Pretty Tied Up

Perhaps a tie was fitting. In a tournament that saw dramatic swings in momentum, the 2010 Myrtle Madness competition ended in an improbable 26 1/2 to 26 1/2 draw.

Day one saw the Shotgun Mulligans jump out to an early lead due to a big win in the foursome competition. With teammate Mike missing the first day of action, Dave, Rick and Erik scrambled effectively to better the foursome of Aaron, Tim, Rusciolelli, and Al Wood. In the other matchup, Danny and Alan jumped ahead by 5 holes on the front nine only to see Preede and Monaghan roar back to take the lead by winning 6 of the first 7 holes on the back nine. Marsh-Evans were able to win the last two holes to secure the match. After the first day, the Shotgun Mulligans held a commanding 8 point lead.

But day two was a day unlike any seen before in the history of this tournament. Down 8 points to start the day, Six Corpses Under an Alabama Porch would win all three doubles matches convincingly. The team of McCann/Rusciolelli defeated Evans/Moran, 5-1. Sacks and Wood beat Marsh and Gruner, 5-1. And Preede and Monaghan swept Dwyer and Kelleher, 6-0. Going into the final day of competition, the Porchers now led by 6 points.

Day three saw compelling matchups at the traditional final-day course, Prestwick. Singles matches featured Moran vs. Rusciolelli and Dwyer vs. Sacks. Doubles matches pitted Evans/Kelleher against McCann/Wood and Gruner/Marsh taking on Preede/Monaghan. Surprises included Dwyer and Sacks playing to a draw and Gruner/Marsh winning the front nine in their match. But a key win from Moran and a sweep from Evans/Kelleher provided just enough to make up the deficit and end the 2010 tournament in a draw.

Trip Highlights

• Heritage gave us all beer coupons. Rick imitated the Eastern Bloc waitress (“You have coupon?”) and chided Dave for not fulfilling his promise to turn in his coupon.
• Dough Boys was a disappointment – Sonja no longer works there and we didn’t run into Danny’s elderly friends.
• Alan started the trip off on the wrong (lead) foot getting a $140 speeding ticket in southern Virginia. He nearly made the money back in poker winnings.
• Perhaps the most accidentally damning comment of all time: Aaron: “This cigar tastes like dick.” Ken: “Maybe that’s because it was in my ass.”
• Fore!head: Erik hit the beverage cart girl in the head with a golf ball. She was fine. As far as we know.
• On Sunday morning as we are all about to leave, Aaron couldn’t find his keys. After 15 minutes or so, we ended up finding them in the outside trashcan – because Aaron had decided a plastic trash bag would be the perfect safekeeping spot for his valuables.

Day 1 (one foursome and one doubles – Heritage)

Day 2 (three doubles – Wachesaw East)

Day 3 (two doubles, two singles) – Prestwick)

Final Score: Shotguns 26.5, Porchers 26.5