1993 River Cup

Willow Oaks Routs CCV in Lopsided River Cup V

       Early morning clouds gave way to a crisp, sunny afternoon as River Cup V began last Friday afternoon at the newly renovated James River Course at the Country Club of Virginia. Playing under alternately sunny and overcast skies, the teams from Willow Oaks and the Country Club of Virginia trod the course for the better part of the afternoon. At the conclusion of the day’s fourball play, Willow Oaks forged a comfortable 17.25 - 6.75 lead.

       In Sunday’s singles play at Willow Oaks, played in perfect fall conditions, WOCC handed CCV a stinging 23.5-8.5 spanking to retain the River Cup by the score of 40.75-15.25. The lopsided score is the biggest margin of victory in River Cup history.

       Captain J. Langdom Moss’ WOCC team was anchored on Friday by the stellar play of its Doug Bryant- Eddie Eddins tandem. Bryant and Eddins both finished the day’s play with 77’s, and combined for a gross fourball 72. The pair shut out CCV’s Rob Leitch and Cliff Culley, who have not won a point in two years of fourball play together. After the thrashing, Leitch withdrew from singles play claiming that he had pressing household chores.

       The twin 77’s posted by Eddins and Bryant came with an asterisk, as the duo stubbornly refused to comply with the rules of play established for the day’s event. Play was according to summer rules, but Eddins and Bryant violated that rule, continuosly and furtively moving their balls in the fairway and, even more egregiously, in the rough. They confessed to their indiscretions only after a television viewer called in to the CBS broadcast booth claiming to have spotted several violations. Replays conclusively established the pair’s misconduct. The Rules Committee refused to penalize the pair, claiming that the violations had not been uncovered until after the scorecards were turned in and the scores posted on the electronic scoreboard behind the 18th green.

       Neither Eddins nor Bryant showed remorse for the violations in post round conversations with the press. "Hey, this is the River Cup. Moss told us to do whatever we needed," Doug Bryant observed. Eddins, just returned from the Ryder Cup matches in Sutton Coldfield, England, was similarly unchastened. "I followed Faldo for three days over there, and you wouldn’t believe how many balls he dropped from his pocket. If he can get away with it, so can I."

       CCV’s Jim Nelson and Wes Morck were victims of another shutout in their match against Scott Warren and Tom McCandlish. Nelson, obviously preoccupied by his duties as Captain of this year’s CCV squad played poorly throughout the weekend. Morck, playing for the first time in the River Cup, was beset by rookie mistakes throughout the first day’s play, but recovered in his singles match on Sunday against Joby Klotz, taking a half point to avoid a total shutout. Nelson was unable to capture a point in his singles match against WOCC’s Eddins.

       The Willow Oaks’ team of Marty Donlan and Paul Sinclair dominated their match against CCV’s John Leitch and Bill Cramme, though Cramme played well on the back nine to salvage a face saving 1.5 points for the team.

       The only loss for Willow Oaks in Friday’s fourball play came in the match pitting WOCC Captain Moss and Klotz against CCV’s George Moorman and Doug Westmoreland. Moorman played his best round in two years, returning an 80 though the score was marred by controversy surrounding a lost ball on the 18th green. Moorman and Westmoreland combined for a solid bestball 74 for their 5.25-.75 win.

       CCV failed to improve on its lackluster fourball showing in singles play, winning only 2 of the 8 matches contested on Sunday at a well groomed Willow Oaks course. Bill Cramme defeated WOCC Captain Moss 3-1 in an uncompelling match in which both players failed to produce a score card. Moss refused to divulge his score, admitting only that his best score on the front nine was a 5.

       In the only other CCV victory in singles, Cliff Culley surprised everyone with a 4-0 shutout of Doug Bryant, normally an excellent net golfer. Culley was exuberant in victory, and appeared unconcerned that his CCV squad had just suffered its worst defeat in River Cup play. "I don’t care about the team. I just wanted to get the press off my back and this ought to do it."

       In a match characterized by sudden shifts in momentum, Willow Oaks’ Paul Sinclair handed Rob Hershey a 3.5-.5 loss. Hershey, playing in his first River Cup match, faced a wily veteran in Sinclair. Sinclair took advantage of Hershey’s apparent misunderstanding of the rules of play, picking up every putt within three feet of the hole claiming "Commissioner’s privilege." Hershey failed to challenge Sinclair on the phantom "privilege" but was able to salvage his half point on the 18th hole with a deft up and down par from the bunker.

       Willow Oaks’ Marty Donlan thrashed CCV’s John Leitch 4-0 in a reprise of their match of two years ago, won by Leitch. Donlan has been looking for revenge ever since. Leitch shot a wretched 94 but claimed that he was hitting the ball well. "I just couldn’t get a break," whined Leitch after the match ended.

       Donlan shot a somewhat dismal 83 himself, but that was not only sufficient to beat Leitch but also to tie WOCC’s Tom McCandlish for medalist honors in this year’s event. McCandlish routed Doug Westmoreland 6-0 in a match that was over before the fat lady even showed up.

       This year’s medal score of 83 is the highest in River Cup play. Observers were at a loss to explain the high scores which characterized this year’s play.

      

      

CCV’s James River Rough Sparks Lost Ball Controversy

       The three million dollar Rees Jones’ redesign of the Country Club of Virginia’s classic James River Course drew generally high marks from this year’s CCV and Willow Oaks Country Club team members. The renovated course, opened only several weeks before the River Cup, was in pristine condition. Players and galleries alike praised the architectural changes for maintaining the character of the course while improving its strategic challenges.

       There was considerable controversy, however, over the difficulty of the rough, into which numerous balls disappeared, none more prominently than that of George "Ear" Moorman on the critical 18th hole of his fourball match against Willow Oaks’ Joby Klotz and Langdon Moss.

       Playing with Doug Westmoreland, Moorman hit his short iron approach to the par five hole short and right of the green. Klotz, who was ahead of Moorman as he hit his shot, claimed the ball bounced around in a tree near the green and landed just beyond the tree in the rough. Klotz hurriedly ran to the area near the point at which the ball landed, arriving well before Moorman and Westmoreland. When the CCV team arrived at the site, they were unable to find the ball. After stalking the ground near the tree for a good ten minutes, backing up play on the course, the ball could not be located.

       Moorman invoked the leaf rule (no penalty for a ball lost in or near a collection of leaves) despite the fact that no leaves could be found in the area near where his ball apparently landed. Klotz and Moss contested Moorman on the point but Moorman persisted, claiming that in fairness a ball lost in the course’s challenging rough should be entitled to the same treatment as a ball lost in leaves. Taking his plea to the Rules Committee Chairman, playing in the group immediately behind him, Moorman claimed that "Klotz saw the ball drop but when we got there, it was like the rough just swallowed it up. If that ball isn’t in the leaves, it’s in Klotz’ pocket."

       The Rules Committee deliberated for several minutes, further slowing up play, eventually allowing Moorman a free drop from the spot. Moorman was able to get up and down in two to salvage par, halving the hole. That allowed Moorman and Westmoreland to take the match 5.25 to .75. The match would have ended 3-3 had a penalty been invoked.

       Moss and Klotz were livid about the ruling, but Rules Committee Chairman Paul Sinclair defended the decision in the post-round press conference. "If you’d seen the look on Klotz’ face, you’d know what happened - he looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. Klotz isn’t above pocketing his opponent’s ball if that’s what it takes. I think Ear was right."

      

River Cup Hall of Fame Inducts Two

       In honor of the fifth anniversary of the River Cup in the modern era, the long discussed River Cup Hall of Fame was established with the induction of two legendary River Cup veterans. Captain J. Langdon Moss, Jr., of Willow Oaks served as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. Moss was unable to attend Saturday evening’s banquet and Annual Meeting but sent greetings and the announcement of the first two inductees in a letter which was read after dinner. The Hall of Fame Committee nominated William B. "Crunch" Correll and Joseph B. "Joby" Klotz for induction to the Hall.

       Correll and Klotz are entwined in River Cup lore, having battled head to head in what is remembered as the most dramatic River Cup singles match in history. Playing in the 1989 rendering, Klotz and Correll were paired against each other in the final match of the day with the Cup in the balance. They came to the 18th hole at CCV’s James River Course with the outcome of their match very much still in doubt. Correll and Klotz both wilted under the intense glare of the River Cup spotlight, each hacking their way to the green. Klotz reached the par four hole in 5 and three putted for eight. Correll sculled his approach shot to the green wide and to the left, but hit a miraculous pitch shot to within twenty feet, lying six.

       There is considerable dispute as to the outcome of the hole, Correll claiming to have won the hole with a one-putt. Other observers recall him three-putting to lose the hole. Scott Warren, playing that day for Willow Oaks Country Club, clearly recalls Correll three-jacking the hole. "Yes, I was there and his first putt was picking up speed as it passed the hole. His come back putt was three feet short, and he just barely snaked his third putt in." Contemporaneous reports of the match were lost in the River Cup fire of 1989 and the dispute may long rage as to the winner of that thrilling match. In records assembled from memory after the fire the match was recorded as a half for each in deference to the conflicting recollections of its outcome. In his letter to the Annual Meeting, Moss described Correll as "a legend in his own mind, a fierce competitor in tennis, softball and, until recently, golf." Moss cited Correll for his records in club tossing at CCV, Willow Oaks, Petersburg Country Club, and the Heritage Club of Myrtle Beach. A versatile athlete, Correll also holds racquet toss records at Richmond’s Byrd Park.

       Klotz was singled out for Hall of Fame induction for being one of the original contestants in the River Cup’s modern era reincarnation in 1989. Not to be outdone by Correll’s club tossing skills, Klotz was once able to lodge three clubs in the same tree at Willow Oaks Country Club, a feat Correll has never been able to duplicate. Klotz was at one time the leading point getter in River Cup history, though he has fallen off in point production in his declining years. He ranked third on the list going into 1993’s matches.

       A voice vote on the Committee’s recommendation resulted in the unanimous induction of Correll and Klotz as the first members of the River Cup Hall of Fame. After the presentations were made, the Committee was asked to return to next year’s meeting with recommendations for an appropriate site for the Hall and procedures for the induction of further members for the honor.

      

      

John Leitch Continues River Cup Slide

       CCV’s John Leitch, once a dominant player in the River Cup, continued his mystifying decline in Cup play. Leitch, MVP for CCV in 1990, played poorly in the ‘91 event and withdrew from the competition in ‘92 claiming a minor injury hampered his play. CCV Captain Jim Nelson had high hopes for this year’s squad with the return of Leitch to the competition. "I expected John to return to form this year but he was a big disappointment."

       Leitch was a sorry shadow of his former self, dribbling his first tee shot in Friday’s fourball play a meager 100 yards. That proved to be one of his longer drives of the day. On the par five 6th, Leitch set what may prove to be an untouchable River Cup record with a drive of eight yards, six of them lateral.

       Leitch’s poor wood play was matched, if not exceeded, by his poor putting. His difficulties began on the par three 4th hole, where he missed a three foot birdie putt. "No way that putt should have missed. It took an impossible break," claimed Leitch. "I just get no luck out here."

       Leitch and partner Bill Cramme were able to salvage 1.5 points from Willow Oaks’ Paul Sinclair and Martin A. Donlan, Jr., thanks to Cramme’s play on the back nine. After losing the front nine two down, Cramme got his team back in the match with a chip in from off the green for par on number 10 to go one up on the back nine. That lead held up going to the crucial par five 16th, where Cramme hit his best shot of the day, a 210 yard three iron to within 10 feet of the flag, on his third shot. Cramme two putted for his par, and with a handicap stroke won the hole for the CCV duo to go two up on the back nine.

       The match came down to the par five 18th, where play backed up near the green awaiting the outcome of a controversy involving George Moorman and Joby Klotz (see accompanying article). After that dispute was resolved, Leitch hit his third shot to the green, leaving himself 35 feet from the hole. Sinclair hit his signature pitch shot from 50 yards short of the green, chili dipping the ball 20 yards short of the green. He was able to get his fourth shot to within two feet of the hole and Leitch, in his only sporting gesture of the day, conceded the putt. Leitch then proceeded to three putt for bogey, losing the hole and the match for his team.

       Cramme grimly shook his head as he watched Leitch’s second putt run past the hole. "It’s just a sad thing to watch John these days. It’s a good thing he’s got tennis to fall back on."

      

[Editor’s note: In a new series of River Cup retrospectives starting below, we look back on River Cup personalities who have not been heard from in awhile.]

      

Whatever Happened To...

       ...Mike Augst reached the pinnacle of his golfing career when he qualified to participate in the 1991 River Cup. Captain Langdon Moss was relieved that Augst had finally qualified for the team after many years of trying. Augst received his official invitation to compete from River Cup Headquarters three weeks prior to play. Inexplicably, the night before fourball play was to begin, Augst made a furtive telephone call to River Cup Headquarters and left a message on the River Cup voice mail system advising that he would not be able to play because, in his now familiar words, "I, uh, have something I have to do this weekend." A stunned Willow Oaks team played indifferently, confused by the last minute withdrawal by Augst, who was expected to play a pivotal role in the matches. Bob Mizell, Augst's last minute replacement, was the only bright spot in a dismal Willow Oaks loss. That loss, the last it has suffered in the River Cup, has ever since been laid at Augst's doorstep.

       Earlier this summer, Augst talked for the first time about his controversial withdrawal. "I've never felt I could talk about it openly but I think everyone knows I withdrew because I couldn't stand the heat. I've been in alot of pressure situations before but the River Cup is a whole different ballgame than I'm used to. I just couldn't face the thought of having a potentially winning putt on the 18th hole. I didn't want to have that kind of pressure. If I had it to do over again, I don't know if I'd be able to face up to it or not. All I know is, I'd sure like the chance."

       Shortly after the withdrawal, Augst fell upon economic hard times. Many attributed it to fallout from the incident. Augst doesn't subscribe to that theory. "Sure, I know alot of people were upset with me but it was purely coincidental that my brother sold his company out from underneath me shortly afterwards - at least that's what he tells me."

       Augst has emerged from the last few years as a successful entrepeneur and represents the"A" in A & C Utility Supply Company. He remains a member of Willow Oaks Country Club and has worked hard to make amends with the River Cup heirarchy in hopes of one day again being extended the coveted invitation he once spurned.

       ...Mark Sweeney is the only former Willow Oaks Club member ever to have qualified for the River Cup as a member of the CCV squad. Sweeney dropped out of Willow Oaks in favor of CCV membership in hopes of qualifying for the somewhat weaker CCV. His move proved wise as he was invited to play in 1991, his first full year of CCV membership.

       Like Augst, Sweeney withdrew from competition several days before fourball play began, leaving then Captain Robert E. Leitch, Jr., in the unenviable position of having to go down even deeper in the CCV depth chart. Cliff Culley, Sweeney’s replacement, failed to score a point and has struggled ever since in the River Cup.

       Sweeney has regretted his decision for the last several years. He and Augst filed a lawsuit against the River Cup in an effort to force an invitation to play. Sweeney’s legal fees in the suit are rumored to run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. His attorney, Thomas McCandlish, refuses to discuss the claims of overbilling in the matter. Sweeney’s hamburger empire continues to thrive.

       [Editor's note: As this edition of The River Cup News went to press, it was learned that the litigation involving Mike Augst and Mark Sweeney has been settled. Complete terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, although it is believed that under its terms, Augst and Sweeney may be eligible for play in the 1994 River Cup should they qualify for their respective teams.]

      

Eddins Named MVP for Willow Oaks

       Eddie Eddins was named Most Valuable Player for Willow Oaks in this year’s River Cup. Eddins scored a perfect 10 in this year’s competition. Eddins paired with Doug Bryant for a 6-0 shutout of CCV’s Rob Leitch and Cliff Culley. Eddins and Bryant were found guilty of cheating in the fourball event, but the violations were discovered too late to change the outcome of the match.

       In singles play, Eddins blanked CCV’s Jim Nelson, who has not won a singles match in River Cup play since 1989, the longest losing streak in Cup play. Nelson had a chance to capture a half point on the back nine but double bogeyed the 18th hole, allowing Eddins to complete his perfect outing with a bogey.

       In an unprecedented move, the MVP Selection Committee refused to name an MVP for CCV. The Committee explained its decision by saying that while several players were considered for the award, none performed well enough to warrant the nod. A spokesman for the Committee futher justified the decision by pointing to the overall poor performance of this year’s CCV team.

       George Moorman staked a claim to the award as the leading point getter for CCV with 5.75 points. But two of those points resulted from a rules decision in a lost ball controversy at the 18th hole. Cliff Culley had some support from the Committee for his play in Sunday’s singles play against Doug Bryant but the Committee could not overlook the shutout he suffered in Friday’s fourball play.

       Bill Cramme had perhaps the best claim to the award based on his strong play in Friday’s fourball. He also took his singles match in Sunday’s singles play against Langdon Moss, but Cramme refused to turn in his scorecard on Sunday. MVP selection criteria require that all candidates for the award must produce a scorecard to justify their selection for the award.

       Moorman, Culley, and Cramme advised the Committee they would share the award if so desired by the Committee, but the Committtee refused to split the honor three ways.

      

      

Sinclair Under Investigation; Morrissey Seeks Indictment

       Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Joseph Morrissey, whose administration has been beset by scandals, has publicly revealed that an investigation of River Cup Commissioner Paul A. Sinclair has been underway for several months. The investigation has long been rumored, but there has been no official confirmation of the charges until now. Details of the investigation are sparse, but it is believed that the charges center around Sinclair’s handling of River Cup funds.

       Morrissey says that he decided to go public with the investigation when Sinclair arrived at the River Cup banquet in a new car recently purchased by his wife. "Sinclair has become a little complacent in trying to hide the funds," announced Morrissey. "I couldn’t let the investigation remain secret any longer."

       Sinclair referred all inquiries to his attorney, Martin A. Donlan, Jr. Donlan characterized the attack on Sinclair as a last gasp effort by Morrissey to salvage his political future. "Let’s face it, Morrissey’s dead politically unless he can get a high profile conviction. This is nothing more than politics as usual in the Morrissey regime. He’ll never get a conviction before he leaves office."

       It is suspected the investigation was launched after John Leitch, a River Cup competitor whose public spats with Sinclair are well known, wrote a letter to Morrissey detailing exorbitant River Cup entry fees. "There’s no way Sinclair is using those funds for River Cup purposes alone. He’s squirreling it away somewhere. I’m no fan of Joe, but more power to him if he can get to the bottom of this matter."

       Sinclair promised a full accounting of River Cup finances as soon as his accountant, Winfred Eddins, Jr., can straighten out the River Cup’s tangled financial records.

       The scandal places Sinclair’s position as River Cup Commissioner in jeopardy. There is some speculation that Leitch has designs on the position and that his correspondence with Morrissey was calculated to strengthen his bid for the title. Sinclair has served as Commissioner since the River Cup matches were renewed in 1989.