The first match set the tone for the day, as Squires Glen came out
swinging, when the
team of Jean Roy and Geoff Dawes jumped out to an early lead in the first
Fourball
Match. Jean played flawless golf thru the first few holes and staked the
team to
a quick lead. The Storeybrook/Woodman Team of Rick Quarantiello and Jack
Climp looked
dashing in their new team uniforms ... but had trouble adjusting to the
treacherous
conditions of the course (ankle high rough) and the tight pin placement.
Squires Glen wins the Match 4 and 2
Total: Squires: 1 pts. Storeybrook: 0 pts.
The second Fourball Match of the day pitted the formidable team of Peter
Yates and "Chap"
against Joe Jan and Scott Archer, long time neighbors, sometimes
adversaries. Joe and Scott
were able to set aside past differences on the golf course and jumped out
to an early lead.
The lead got larger when Joe hit a chip from Tee #4 right into the hole for
an Ace!
That lead evaporated as Peter and Chap battled back to win several holes
and actually
forged ahead. Coming to the final hole, Scott Archer faced a fast downhill
putt to halve
the hole and the match. He nailed the putt, squaring the match.
Match Halved
Total: Squires: 1.5 pts. Storeybrook: .5 pts.
At this point it should be noted that the Squires Glen team, despite there good start, looked a little sluggish. According to sources ... a "block party" was held the night before where several players were seen out past curfew consuming alcoholic beverages. The Team Captain has noted their behavior and lack of proper team uniforms for consideration next year. There were also several players ... who were not exactly eager to get into the action. "I'll sit out if you don't need me coach" was overheard in several conversations with the Captain. The format of the tournament is such that it can accommodate between 4 and 10 players. The razor sharp Storeybrook Team appeared in team uniforms of Blue "Q" shirts and Tan slacks/shorts. They also appeared to have a game plan to steal the inaugural cup away from the home team.
The pivotal third and final Fourball Match of the day pitted Team Captain
Marty Leahy and
Dave against Glen Markey and Chuck Johnson. Chuck and Glen were a little
intimidated at
first by their formidable opponents and quickly fell behind when Marty hit
the second
hole in one of the day at the easy 2nd Hole, giving his team the lift they
needed.
Glen and Chuck managed to snap out of an early
funk and battle back on the next 2 holes only to succumb to the dangerous
"Bench Hole". The bench hole would
test many a man's mettle this day, and Glen and Chuck both left shots
"under the bench" so to
speak ... giving the hole away to the opponents. More trouble was to come
on the dreaded
"Bridge Hole". Spectators could hear the swing of the golf club, but no
ball appeared to
carry the dense hazard that separates the two fairways. Another victory for
toreybrook. The
match tightened up at the end, but was still a convincing victory for the
Storeybrook Team
who needed a spark ... and got it from their inspirational leader/captain.
As a final
gesture of team superiority, Marty sent a ball over the house on #8 giving
himself a shot
at an Eagle. The match was on.
Storebrook defeats Squires 1 Up
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 1.5 pts. Storeybrook: 1.5 pts. (all Square)
The light-hearted atmosphere that was present earlier in the day slowly evolved into an arena of tension and drama. While the team wives and children enjoyed each other's company in the front yard and driveway, the men were beginning to sweat. The next few matches would be critical in setting up the 6 singles matches. Storeybrook's back to back victories sent out a message ... that the home-court advantage was over. There would be no more conceded putts.
Sensing a shift in momentum and needing a victory, Team Captain, Melanson
sent his ace out
in the next match as Jean Roy teamed with Joe Jan and would face Peter and
Chap. By this
point of the day, the Storeybrook clan may have been a little over-confident
and was hitting
the beer cooler on a regular basis. Even in the alternating shot format,
Roy's shot-making
was spectacular and caught the Storeybrook Boys with their pants down. Joe
Jan kept pace with
Jean's great play until the 5th hole when he missed a 4 inch putt that
would have sealed the
victory. After some chiding from his teammates. Mr. Janeliunas redeemed
himself with a splendid
performance on the next two holes. This match was over quickly and the
teams were shaking
hands on the the 6th hole.
Squire's Glen wins 4 and 3
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 2.5 pts. Storeybrook: 2.5 pts. (All Square)
For the single matches, team captains selected players of similar ability to play against one another. This is unlike the real Ryder Cup where captains will send out sacrificial lambs for players like Tiger Woods. The pairings were:
| Flight | Squire's Glen Player | Storeybrook/Woodman Player | |
| A | Jean Roy | Jack Climp | |
| B | Leo Melanson | Mary Leahy | |
| C | Scott Archer | Rick Quarantiello | |
| D | Joe Janeliunas | Chap | |
| E | Glen Markey | Peter Yates | |
| F | Geoff Dawes | Dave |
SG Alternates: Chuck Johnson, Steve Richardson (both had other sports commitments)
The Ryder Cup was now down to the Singles Matches. Beat your man and win one for the team. The tension of the day and the tightness of the tournament had reached new levels. Players were chunking easy chip shots and "yipping" putts of under a foot. Team Captain Melanson mentioned that he had "played the course over 1000 times and this was the first time he had remembered being nervous." There was one hole that was halved with 5's from each team (double bogey) and that was without any penalty strokes.
The singles matches went out as foursomes, each man playing against one
opponent, and
started with Chap taking on Joe. Known throughout Squires Glen as "Mr.
Sunday",
Janeliunas played well throughout his final match (shaking off an early
morning
hangover) to come out on top and square the Ryder Cup.
Joe Jan defeats Chap 2 and 1
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 3.5 pts. Storeybrook: 3.5 pts. (All Square)
In the other singles match, Glen Markey was down to Peter Yates throughout.
Glenn had
a rough day losing his earlier match decisively, and seemed to be
struggling in this
match as well. Then came one of the most crucial and pivotal moments of the
Ryder Cup.
Trailing Peter Yates by 2 with two to play (dormy), Glen won the 8th with
an excellent
placement shot, and then moved to the difficult 9th hole, needing a win to
steal 1/2 point
from the enemy. He pulled off a masterful chip shot that held the green,
something that
nobody else in the field has been able to do all day, and he sunk the
crucial putt to
steal the hole and the match for his beloved teammates. "We're all proud of
you Glen", the
team cheered. Peter didn't lose this one ... Glen gave 110% and earned the
1/2 point.
Peter Yates and Glen Markey - match halved
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 4.0 pts. Storeybrook: 4.0 pts. (All Square)
The next group of golfers contained the "Big Guns". With the Ryder Cup
Match all square 4-4
each team pulled out their "A Players" with Jean Roy and Jack Climp. Jean
had crushed everyone
all day, but now must face a gritty, determined foe with a huge legacy of
clutch performances
and two Ryder Cup matches all ready under his belt. Jack struck early and
had Jean down for
the first time all day. The players exchanged volleys each winning several
holes until the 8th
where Jean was down 1 with two to play. He threw caution to the wind and
sent his tee shot over the
house and onto the dance floor in "1" with an Eagle chip awaiting. His
Birdie putt was conceded
and the match went to #9 all square. Again, Jean pulled off the impossible,
by chipping his tee
shot onto the green and shocking his opponent with a stunning victory.
Jean Roy defeats Jack Climp 1 Up
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 5.0 pts. Storeybrook: 4.0 pts.
In the feature match of the day, the Team Captains squared off in a
showdown of "B" players. This was
not done on purpose, but was the luck of the draw and probably the "right
thing to do." The match
was tight until the fourth hole when Leahy, who's play had been spectacular
throughout the day, made
a mistake that will forever be remembered as the "TC Chen", named after a
famous PGA player who
"double-hit" his chip shot during a US Open in the early 80's. Yes, Leahy
hit his shot twice, and
landed in the garden. Opponent Melanson noted that "I should probably have
cut that grass", making
reference to the terrible conditions of the 4th hole tee box. The gaff and
lost hole didn't fluster Leahy who
battled on. Melanson took another hole with a masterful chip in from off
the green, and completed
the victory on #9 by chipping in again, fighting off a furious comeback
attempt from Leahy. The
Captains match was history, and Squires Glen needed only to halve one match
of the remaining two
to seal the victory. Storeybrook needed to win both matches to square the
Ryder Cup to a tie.
Leo Melanson beats Marty Leahy 1 Up
Ryder Cup Total: Squires: 6.0 pts. Storeybrook: 4.0 pts.
2000 would go down in history as the year that the "yanks" fended off the hard-charging newcomers on the block 7.0 - 5.0. Will there be a Ryder Cup in 2001? That is a big ... YES. Team Captains will be announced shortly, and players can begin impressing them with play/bribes during the upcoming year. It will be remembered as the year that the new guys came "dressed to kill" and they woke up a "sleeping giant".
Rick Quarantiello won the Grand Finale Chip off contest with 2 incredible shots, almost chipping in for a hole in one twice in a row, to take home a cash price ... which was quickly spent on the Ice Cream Man for 20 hungry kids. To make Rick's day even brighter, his wife was named "Ryder Cup Beauty Queen" and was given a beautiful crown. Next year the women want to participate in there own golf matches, and not "thong mud wrestling" as one of the sexist men recommended.
