SIOPen For the True Golfer
Mick "The Quick" Kavanagh
"It was a dark and stormy day." With apologies to Bulwer-Lytton,
Stone Mountain, Georgia, did its best to match a foggy night setting for the
Third Hugo Munsterberg SIOPen in conjunction with (some say, enhancement of) the
1999 Annual Conference of SIOP in Atlanta, Georgia. Eighty golfers, in 20
foursomes, playing a 4-person scramble format began the annual competition, with
a shotgun start, at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 29th. The Minnesota State
University team of Robert Cunningham, Dan Sachau, Todd Bricker, and Jason
Miller, whose picture appeared in the October 99 issue of TIP, were
the winners of the coveted Hugo Cup with a net score of 58.
Although the 80 golfers starting the SIOPen surpassed the 60 who played in
the 1998 event in Plano, Texas, the finishing numbers were 72. Apparently, two
teams found the allure of the warmth and companionship of the 19th hole
more attractive than the 52 degree, rain, and fog conditions on the course.
Given my play that day, I wanted to head to the 19th early.
Unfortunately, as a member of the team included one of the organizers of the
event, Chuck "Chili Dip" Lance, this was rejected as not
fitting the operational definition of golf. A hearty congrats for all who showed
up to play, regardless of whether you finished or not.
The co-organizers Chuck Lance and Jose "Hosel" Cortina are
to be thanked and congratulated for providing a well-organized event. The course
selection was really wonderful, in spite of the fact that Stone Mountain was
only visible for part of the round. It certainly provided a severe challenge
which was increased by the course's length and wet conditions. The undulating
greens provided a severe test for each team and provided the opportunity for
stories of long, difficult putts made during the rehashing of the round in the
19th hole. Chuck and Hose have promised another great course for the
SIOP meetings this year in New Orleans.
In spite of the weather, missed putts, water balls (yes, Mr. President, those
shots count), and misdirected drives, all players agreed that it was the best
way to begin the annual SIOP conference. Remember, the alternative was to be in
downtown Atlanta in the same weather. The scramble format allows golfers of all
abilities to enjoy a fine day of golf, hitting shots from where they have never
been before. Chuck and Hose have plans to make this year more exciting, planning
a voodoo ceremony to ward off any inclement weather. They invite all SIOP
golfers, male and female, to come join us for a "good walk spoiled"
(Mark Twain).
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