March 27, 2006

SELLERSBURG, IN — The fifth meeting of Tom McCauley vs Greg Long took place outside of Louisville over the weekend. McCauley gets nothing but enthusiastic support and delivers nothing but dismal performances when matched up against Slick.

At 34, Tom's chances for winning continues to grow, but this time Greg was coming to town for a 36 hole winter match. The home course would be the best place for his fortunes to return. Last spring, Slick dominated McCauley throughout the 36-hole match. Big changes were instore for Slick.

"I really thought sleeping in my bed, knowing the course and the weather would really would make the difference," McCauley said. "I always give one hell of an effort against Slick. I really opened strong and had Slick in a position of embarassment."

Slick started Saturday at Covered Bridge Golf Club with double-bogey, double-bogey, double-bogey, quad-bogey, quintuple-bogey in route to his worst front nine in 4 years. Long opened with 57 strokes at Lake Forest Country Club in September 2002.

"A 10-stroke cushion after 5 holes," says T. "I really thought it was already over. That was before the wheels came off sometime late Saturday night. Maybe it was something that I ate at Rocky's."

Long shot an embarrassing 98 while Tom shot 86. A 12-stroke lead with 18 holes to play was not enough. The wheels came off early on Sunday.

Tom opened Sunday with double-bogey, bogey, triple-bogey, double-bogey, quintuple-bogey, triple-bogey in route to the largest debacle in McCauley history. Slick made up all 12 strokes in the first 6 holes on Sunday when McCauley required 55 strokes on the front nine.

"I played worse than crap," says McCauley. "However, do not feel I am running out of time. Our little spring event just started 7 years ago and I'm only 34 years young. I am mentally a better golfer now than I was, and hopefully much more experienced. Statistically, the mid-30's are the prime years for golfers. I am looking forward to my peek."

McCauley finished the 36-hole event with 86-106=192 while Greg's debacle was enough carding him 98-86=184. The 8-stroke win was Slick's 4th in a row.

Tom somehow enters the 2006 Virtual Tournament in 2nd position, which spotlights a very weak state of Virginia.