1990 River Cup

CCV Loses Early Lead;
Lapse Allows WOCC To Salvage Tie

      Once again, the annual River Cup Competition between two local Country Clubs lived up to its reputation for golfing drama, sportsmanship, and shotmaking. The contingent from The Country Club of Virginia, captained by Robert E. Leitch, Jr., maintained a solid hold on the coveted River Cup by virtue of a 14-14 tie. Willow Oaks Country Club, under the inspired leadership of J. Langdon Moss, Jr., staged a stirring second day comeback on its home course to salvage the tie, recovering from a 9-3 deficit after the first day of four-ball play at CCV's Tuckahoe Creek Course. Willow Oaks dominated the singles play on Sunday 11-5.

       Leitch, a local banking executive, praised his players for their tenacity in holding on for the tie, noting that the home course advantage for the Willow Oaks side in Sunday's singles play had caused him concern going into the event. "We knew we had to dominate the four-ball event on our home course Saturday because my guys have a tendency to gag in head- to-head competition. We went out and did what we had to do on Saturday and luckily it was enough to hold on to the Cup," said Leitch at the awards ceremony after play.

       While disheartened at being unable to wrest the Cup from the firm grip of the CCV contingent, WOCC Team Captain Moss, a recently promoted executive with a national medical sales company, characterized the tie as a moral victory and potentially a turning point in Cup history. Commenting at the awards ceremony, Moss stated that "our guys were dejected after the four-ball play, but our dominance in Sunday's singles play didn't surprise me - our guys played with a lot of heart and we're always tough in singles play. I think next year you'll see a new confidence in our team and we hope to build on the success of Sunday's play."

      

John Leitch Gets Grudging Nod as CCV MVP;
Moss Takes Award for WOCC

      The Most Valuable Player award for the winning CCV side went to John Leitch, brother of the team's captain. Leitch, playing in only his second River Cup, captured 8.5 of a possible 10 points over the two days of play. Under the revamped format of this year's event, 6 points were awarded for each four-ball match (1.5 points each for the front nine, back nine, and 18; and 1.5 points points for the low net best ball score) and 4 points for each singles match (1 point each for the front nine, back nine, and 18; and 1 point for low net score.) Leitch lost only the back nine in Saturday's four-ball play while teamed with brother-in-law George Moorman, depriving him of the opportunity to become the first player in River Cup history to score a perfect 10. "If I'd had some luck on the back nine at home on Saturday, I could have swept," commented Leitch. "I hit a couple of putts pure and they should have dropped. If [my brother] Rob had stroked those putts, they would have gone down."

       Team Captain Moss was awarded the MVP for the WOCC side in extremely close balloting, with Joseph B. ("Joby") Klotz a close second. Moss captured 5.5 points for his team: 1.5 in four-ball play and a perfect 4 in singles. Klotz took home 5 points: 1.5 in four-ball play and a surprising 3.5 in singles play despite arriving late for his tee time.

       Klotz narrowly avoided disqualification in the most controversial incident of the tournament. He was allowed to compete in Sunday's event only after the CCV team sportingly agreed to let him begin play on the second hole. Klotz went on to dominate play against Moorman, a River Cup rookie severely handicapped by a pair of broken eyeglasses. "If I could have seen the f------ ball, there's no way that a---- -- Klotz could have beaten me. We never should have let him play," said a testy Moorman after stalking off the course. When told of Moorman's statement, Klotz remarked that "I'm looking forward to a rematch with George next year. I hope we're paired up again. George is a fine gentleman and I'm sure he was misquoted."

Nelson Boycotts Post Event Celebration

      In another controversial incident, Jim Nelson of CCV refused to appear at the awards ceremony at the conclusion of play. Some speculated that Nelson was indignant after having been swept in singles play by WOCC's Moss. WOCC's John Lees, another singles play sweep victim, appeared at the ceremony and was asked to comment on Nelson's conspicuous absence. "I guess if Moss beat me, I wouldn't want to show my face around here either," commented Lees. The public slight of his Captain was uncharacteristic for the soft- spoken Lees, although privately Lees earlier criticized Moss' strategy in the singles pairings which pitted Lees against CCV's tough John Leitch. Lees has never beaten Leitch, although in this year's Wolfman Competition (a nine- hole charity affair played after the first day of four- ball competition) Leitch only narrowly defeated Lees in a sudden death shoot-out. When told of Lees' rebuke, Moss said that "this is a matter between John and me which we'll resolve privately. John is a fine gentleman and I'm sure he was misquoted."

Eagle on 18 Thrills Crowd

      An exclamation point was added to the tournament when WOCC's Paul Sinclair threw in a 6-iron from 162 yards out on the final hole on Sunday for an eagle 2. Sinclair, playing in the final group, thrilled the crowd gathered around Willow Oaks' 397-yard par-4 finishing hole with what is believed to be the first eagle in Cup history.

       Playing against Rob Leitch in the singles event, Sinclair was characteristically modest about the feat at the awards ceremony. "I just wanted to get it on the green. Rob was about 4 feet from the hole in 2. I wasn't sure where we stood in stroke play at the time but I knew it was close and all I wanted to do was win the point for the team. Luckily, it went in." Leitch was quoted as saying "that lucky son-of-a-bitch. No way could he ever do that again. I just wish he'd quit yapping about it." When told of Leitch's comment, Sinclair responded only that "Rob's a fine gentleman and I'm sure he was misquoted."

River Cup Expansion Plans Announced

      In post-tournament developments, Team Captains Moss and Leitch issued a joint press release in favor of expanding next year's field by adding two players from each Club. "The River Cup has established its staying power. Now it's time to consider expansion. We feel that the prudent course at this time is to add two players from each Club. we considered a recomendation to the Executive Committee of adding four players from each Club, but felt that that was too ambitious at this time." Expansion must be approved by the Executive Committee, which will take up the issue at its mid-year meeting. Expansion Committee Chairman Paul Sinclair issued a statement also favoring expansion, with the proviso that all competitors from prior year's events should be guaranteed a berth in future years before any new invitations are extended."

       Also, the Executive Committee announced that Moss and Leitch have been reelected by their respective Clubs to serve as Team Captains for next year's event to be conducted October 26 and 27, 1991. Leitch's reelection was unanimous while Moss had support from three of his team's four members. Next year's singles play rotates to The Country Club of Virginia, thus establishing CCV as the early favorite to retain its hold on the Cup Trophy. The Executive Committee also appointed Moss and Leitch as co-chairmen of the Cup Acquisition Committee, with instructions to take all necessary steps to purchase or otherwise acquire an appropriate trophy to be awarded in future events.