The Red Evens held off a surging Blue Odds squad on Saturday, May 16, 2017 to retain The Genuine Ballantine Draft Beer Swinging Penguin Cup at Eaglewood Golf Course in Itasca, Il.
Down 161/2 to 131/2, the odds were already long for the correspondingly named Blue Odds coming in to the Final Round Singles Match with 20 points on the line, even after they had pulled to within three points in Match 3. The Odds needed to win 12 points to the Evens’ 81/2 to win the Ballantine Cup outright as a tie would go to the reigning champs. At the end of the day, the Red Evens were victorious with a 261/2 to 221/2 total win.
The first nine did not go to according to big comeback script for the Blue Odds as the Red Evens won 71/2 of the available 10 points and more importantly, needed only a 1/2 point on the back nine to retain the Cup. The Blue Odds almost made an incredible comeback on the back, winning 61/2 points, but in the end it was not enough to win the Cup or even the final round, which would have put a little more money in the pockets of the Inaugural Champions. The final count for the day was 11-9. “I blame myself” said the defeated Captain of the Odds, “I lost all but 3 points this year. If I would have just played better, we would have taken it this year. No doubt about it, my guys played their hearts out, but I stunk up the joint. We’ll get’em next year.”
As the 2017 season commenced at the Hilldale Golf Club in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, May 6th, both teams were optimistic for the new season. The formats for the day were Fourball on the easier front nine and Scramble on the more formidable back nine. This was a change in years past where the first match is usually played Scramble/American Foursomes. It didn’t start out well for the Blue Odds and ended even worse as the Red Evens stomped the hearts out of the their opponent mercilessly until the end result was a commanding 8-2 lead.
With resolve in their hearts, the Blue Odds came charging out of the gate in Match 2 at Palatine Hills Golf Course on Sunday, June 4th, gaining 3 of the 5 points available on the front nine Scramble format, but they could only hold on for a tie in the American Foursomes format back nine, ending the day at 5-5 and still down 13-7. Still, it was a moral victory after losing the last six matches dating back to 2016.
The two month break between Match 2 and Match 3 greatly helped the Blue Odds recharge their batteries as the came charging out the gate with a commanding 4-1 lead after the Fourball front nine, the only point surrendered to the Red Team of Snell/Gryfakis after several missed opportunities to take control of the match by team of DeRosa/Muenkel. Otherwise, it would have been a sorely needed front nine sweep.The Red Evens regained themselves and tied the back nine 21/2 to 21/2 to end the day at at 31/2 to 61/2 and up for the year 161/2 to a 131/2.
Heading into the fateful Final Round, the Red Evens lead had shrunk a mere three points with 20 points available, the new found confidence of the Blue Odds felt anything was possible.
Sadly, they were wrong.
“We’ll get them next year,” said a disappointed, but proud Blue Odd Captain, “those Red Evens better not sit on their laurels, whatever those are. Can someone get me a definition on ‘laurels?'”
Notes:
During his year with the Genuine Ballantine Draft Beer Swinging Penguin Cup, Capt. Teusceher made a modification to the trophy, adding two brass shot glasses to the side to allow for two people to take a shot off the Cup at the simultaneously. Capt. Teuscher was quoted as saying, “You have to be able to drink from the Cup, amiright?” Many shots of Fireball were enjoyed from the Cup, including members of the Blue Odds with Capt. Teuscher, as winning Captain, declaring that on the day of the Cup presentation, all should be allowed to drink from it. What other modifications do the Red Evens have in mind now that they have it for another year?
After the final Round, during the celebratory dinner, it was revealed by the Commissioner’s Office that a new award was created for The Ballantine Outstanding Player of the Year (BOPY). The winner would be honored with a blazer with the Ballantine three interlocked rings seal adorned on the pocket and presented to them by last year’s winner. The past year’s winners were announced as well to get the award up-to-date. The 2015 honor when to Player Emeritus Todd Hoyer and was accepted for him by Bill Frye. Mr. Frye then presented the 2016 jacket to Jake Stawicki for his excellent play for the 2016 Red Team. And in turn, Mr. Stawicki presented the 2017 jacket to Mike Snell, who, after being traded to the Red team for Mr.Frye and the running joke of flipping Frye every year, played with a chip on his shoulder the size of a Pro-V. Mr. Snell ended up sweeping all his points and carrying his team to victory. Congratulations to all of the winners.