March 7, 2008

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — As the 7 year anniversary passes from the inaugural Carl Spackler Open Championship, four things come to mind from a week at the beach. A golden performance from Greg Long, a.k.a. Slick, in the home stretch and ungolden performance by Mike Trojanowski, a.k.a. Troj, down the stretch.

"I did win the tournament in 2001, but what does that really mean," says Slick. "It helps when McCauley racks up 110 strokes in the final round and Matt Davis, a.k.a Pokey, decides to drink a shot of vodka on every hole throughout the back nine."

Slick won the tournament with just 107 points. Troj on the other hand, fell down the stretch conceeding to Don Creighton on the 72nd hole by 3-putting from 10 feet.

The two other memories are Hevy Joesph's wallet and Jeremy Myers airport shuttle.

Kevin Long, Jr., a.k.a. Hevy Joesph, forgot his wallet at home. After a full hour outside Washington, DC traffic, Matt Davis turned around to reclaim the wallet. Hevy then forgot his wallet again the following morning on the way to Round 1 play. "Isn't this the guy who lost his money in 2003," says senior member Bill Bateson. "Actually, isn't he the guy who sharted in his pants last year. He should write a book."

The airport shuttle included four adults in the front seat of Myers' station wagon. Tom McCauley, Jason Watson, and Greg Long were picked up at the closed Myrtle Beach airport around 1:00 AM.

They filled the vehicle completely with the exception of the front seat. "It was pretty tight," says Tom McCauley. "Slick was sitting on the armrest with his feet on the dash. Myers took both headrests off the front seats so Watson could lay across them. His head touched the driver's window and feet touching the other passenger window. Nobody could move an inch and the only open room in the vehicle was to the left and right of Slick's feet."

McCauley added, "Thank God I am pretty tall. I got the front seat and had the Championship Trophy on one leg and duffle bag on the other leg." Of course, McCauley noticed the six pack in the back seat before sitting down and cracked open a couple. Slick warned of the stupidity. Watson could not physically drink any beverage while laying across the seats. McCauley and Myers both placed one beer between their legs.

Myers proceeded up Kings Highway towards Aberdeen Country Club. Myers said, "All of a sudden, the Myrtle police were behind me with their lights on. They were surely stopping us. My first reaction was to throw my beer under the seat. I did that realizing shortly after the beer was draining under my seat.

The police gingerly walked to the window, flashed a light into the front seat and said, 'Hey guys. It looks a little tight in there.'"

After a couple of general questions, the police flashed their light over McCauley's open container. The police asked, "Have you guys been drinking?" McCauley replied with beer still between his legs, "No sir".

"I cannot McCauley did not get rid of his beer," said Myers hours later. McCauley continues to insist, "It was too tight. I could not move."

The police obviously noticed the can and replied, "We need to investigate the contents of the vehicle. I need you guys to get out of the car." [It takes 3 minutes to get out of the car.]

The first officer, Dave, asks Myers to walk a line on the driver's side while McCauley starts talking to the other officer, James, about the Golden Jacket and Championship Trophy on the passenger side of the vehicle. James takes to the jacket and starts to show excitement.

[A couple of minutes pass by.]

Dave shouts across the hood of the car at James, "What did you find in the car?" James replies, "Let me check." [James walks over to the car... bends over and peers in the car. Grabs the open beer on the floor and tosses it under the seat. There is still a puddle of beer on the floor.] James yells, "The car is clean."

The officers ask a few more questions and instruct Myers to drive straight to Aberdeen obeying the speed signs and do not stop for gas. James says, "Now you guys can get back in the car."

James wanted to try on the Golden Jacket prior to departing, but was told by McCauley, "You guys are really cool, but this jacket is reserved for Champions."

"I cannot they asked us to reassume those positions in a vehicle," said Watson. "It was the most ridiculous situation ever. I do not expect anyone to believe it."

The 8th installment of Carl Spackler Open Championship opens play in 100 days in Peru, IN. The tournament inserted a bus or taxi service years ago to prevent another Myrtle Beach experience. The initial field has been working hard on their golf games for over 7 years and it should be a great tournament. Jeremy Myers is scheduled for a fan workshop at 3:00 PM. Rick Dosky and his bionic hip reportedly played 18 holes of indoor golf on Wednesday night without a problem.