1994 River Cup Media Guide

Published Annually in Advance of The River Cup // October 1994 // Vol 2, No 1

River Cup Expansion Tops 1994 Stories

     For the second time in four years, The River Cup Competition Committee has voted to expand the River Cup field. The expansion from eight players per side to twelve follows the Committee's decision in 1990 to double the size of the field from four to eight players per side. Speculation abounds as to the basis for the Committee's decision, made at its mid-year meeting held this year at the posh Homestead Resort in southwestern Virginia. Captain Jim Nelson of the Country Club of Virginia blames the decision on Willow Oaks Captain Langdon Moss (see Nelson Letter), while Moss and River Cup Commissioner Paul Sinclair claim that Nelson sought expansion in order to bring in some new players for the CCV side. Nelson has been hampered during his tenure as Captain due to the River Cup by-law requiring that he field his team from all available participants from the prior year.

     Unidentified sources have suggested that the Committee's decision was a direct result of last year's settlement in the suit against The River Cup by Mark Sweeney and Mike Augst. Sweeney and Augst were banned from the competition in 1990 and immediately sued River Cup officials for reinstatement. The litigation was settled on the eve of last year's competition. Sweeney has been selected for the CCV squad this year by Captain Nelson, who refuses to discuss the basis for Sweeney's selection.

     Other theories for the expansion decision surround Chuck Byrd's appointment to the WOCC team. River Cup sources claim Byrd earned his berth on the WOCC team by agreeing to host the annual River Cup reception. Moss refused to comment on that theory.

     As a result of expansion, this year's field includes five rookies, the largest rookie field in River Cup history.

CCV Looking for First Win Since 1989

     CCV Team Captain Jim Nelson's future is in doubt if he cannot bring the River Cup home to CCV this year. CCV has not won the event since the 1989 outing, which saw the competition revived after a lull of several decades. CCV's grasp on the Cup was loosened in 1990 when a gritty Willow Oaks team battled to a tie with a strong showing in singles. Willow Oaks followed that up with convincing victories in 1991 and 1992. Last year's Willow Oaks victory was the biggest margin of victory in the history of the event.

     Nelson has vowed to improve on the sordid record of his predecessor, Robert E. Leitch, Jr., who was ousted from his Captaincy last year. Sources claim that Nelson may be replaced if he cannot make good on his vow.

Willow Oaks Pro Chuck Bassler Takes A Candid Look at the 1994 Willow Oaks Team

     Willow Oaks Team Captain J. L. Moss, Jr., dispatched a River Cup Media Guide staff writer to conduct this candid interview with Willow Oaks Country Club Pro Chuck Bassler last week. The topic: the 1994 WOCC River Cup team. Mr. Bassler is infinitely qualified to speak on the team for two reasons: first, he is a highly regarded professional, the son of a former PGA Tour player, and a former Mid-Atlantic PGA Club Pro of the Year. Second, as a mainstay at Willow Oaks, he is intimately aware of the players, their skills and their idiosyncracies. The interview took place one late afternoon in Bassler's office. Moss filed this report of the interview.

River Cup Media Guide: Chuck, tell us about the selection process for the team and your assessment of its chances.

Chuck Bassler: Well, the selection process is a two year deal. The PGA Tour awards points based upon a player's performance in sanctioned tournaments. The Captain of each team has two wild card selections that he has the option to . . .

RCMG: Chuck, I think that you're confused. We're talking about the River Cup, not the Ryder Cup.

CB: The River Cup? What the hell is that?

RCMG: Chuck, that's the annual competition between Willow Oaks and the Country Club of Virginia.

CB: The River Cup?

RCMG: Right, the River Cup, not the Ryder Cup.

CB: Well, I am not familiar with the River Cup. But I know all of the better players here at Willow Oaks pretty well, so I should be able to discuss the team. You're sure we weren't supposed to talk about the Ryder Cup?

RCMG: Yes, Chuck, we're sure. Okay, let's start with the River Cup Commissioner, Paul Sinclair. How would you assess his game?

CB: Who?

RCMG: Paul Sinclair. He's been the Commissioner for several years. Perhaps you remember the eagle he had right here at Willow Oaks several years ago. I bet that was quite a thrill for the whole club.

CB: Oh, Sinclair. For crying out loud - this guy has never won a thing in his life and then he sculls one into the cup for an eagle. The entire membership is sick and tired of his bringing it up in every conversa . . .

RCMG: Well, let's talk about some of the other players, okay?

CB: Sure, who else is on the team?

RCMG: The team Captain is Langdon Moss. How would you describe his game?

CB: Moss? I don't believe I know him.

RCMG: Well then, how about Eddie Eddins?

CB: Eddins. Nope.

RCMG: Doug Bryant, Scott Warren, Brad Smallwood?

CB: Smallwood. Yeah, I know who he is. That guy hits more range balls than anyone at the Club.

RCMG: Oh, so he is really honing his game?

CB: I wouldn't say that, but I will say that I'm making a good living selling him range balls. If he ever gets good enough to stop hitting range balls, I'm going to lose about 20% of my income.

RCMG: Let's move on. Tell us about John Lees.

CB: Yeah, I recognize that name.

RCMG: Good, now we're into it. Tell us what you know about Big John's game.

CB: I don't have a clue how he plays but I remember seeing his name on the delinquent list a few months back.

RCMG: Okay, Chuck, let's try some word association. Just say the first thing that comes to mind when I say . . . Joby Klotz . . .

CB: Awful.

RCMG: Chip Bliley . . .

CB: . . . related to a lot of members.

RCMG: Marty Donlan . . .

CB: . . . Chip's brother-in-law.

RCMG: Kent Puryear . . .

CB: . . . well, I understand his wife is a hell of a tennis player, but I don't know him at all.

RCMG: Chuck Byrd . . .

CB: . . . Byrd is on the team? I know Chuck because he was a former Club President but how did he get on the team?

RCMG: I believe it's because he volunteered to host the cocktail party.

CB: Look, I don't know what kind of team this is supposed to be but I can tell you one thing - it's a lousy team. Where are the Isaacs brothers? Where is Mike Pratt? Or Mike Kelly? Hank Klein?

RCMG: Well, Chuck, you'd have to take that up with Langdon Moss. He selected this team.

CB: What a miserable judge of talent he must be. I've got better talent in my clinics for five year olds! Let me know when this tournament is because I want to get some serious action down on CCV. I'll make a killing. If CCV can't beat these guys, they better give it up because . . .

RCMG: Well, our time is up. Thank you, Chuck, for your insights here on the eve of the exciting competition.

CCV Captain Jim Nelson Addresses Team

     In an unprecedented open letter, CCV Captain Jim Nelson explains his preparations for this year's event and defends himself from criticism for CCV's performance in 1993.

     As you know, this is my second year as Captain of the talented but unpredictable CCV River Cup squad. Since our defeat last year, I have been extremely busy, often working late into the night, to assemble a team that is dedicated to bringing the coveted River Cup back to where it belongs.

     I took over the squad in 1993 after much turmoil in the '92 event. As everyone will recall, we suspended our long-time captain, Rob Leitch, prior to the 1992 event. (I want to go on record now as saying that I voted against his ouster). Brother John Leitch was appointed Acting Captain, and for reasons beyond anyone's recollection, William B. Correll, Jr., was designated as non-playing Captain. Although all of this seemed to be excellent strategy at the time, it proved to be a plan that did not pay off. Our defeat that year proved we needed new leadership.

     Most of my teammates felt that I was the obvious choice to succeed as Captain, mainly because of my strong play in previous River Cup matches. (Editor's note: Nelson has apparently failed to review his record in River Cup play.) There are a few players who insist that my offer to have the cocktail party had something to do with the selection, but this is the kind of controversy that I have come to expect from our talented and spirited group.

     What has prepared me most for the '94 Cup was our mid-year workout at The Homestead Resort. The Commissioner, Captain Moss, and myself spent many hours trying to determine how we could improve upon an already excellent team event. In keeping with true River Cup spirit, Captain Moss was also able to help me appreciate, through his many years of leadership of the Willow Oaks team, the true meaning of the River Cup event. I will always be grateful to him for sharing his many secrets concerning player motivation, team strategy, and handicap sand-bagging (a 15 handicap Langdon? Come on.)

     Knowing that as leaders of our respective teams, we must lead by example, it was felt that numerous practice sessions at the Homestead were an integral part of our preparation for this year's event. After playing 36 holes a day, we had little time for anything else, but we did make the major decision to increase the field this year to twelve players per team.

     I initially had trouble convincing Captain Moss of the value of this concept. I feel that he was concerned that he would have trouble coming up with the additional number of qualified players. But when I showed him the bill for our stay at The Homestead, he agreed that we need to increase the field so that there's enough money in the River Cup account to continue funding our annual mid-year boondoggles, er, meetings.

     As we sit back and prepare for our upcoming matches, I want my team to realize the importance of bringing the Cup home to CCV. I have thought of little else for the last few months. While the River Cup is all consuming, I am having trouble keeping my mind off next year's mid-year meeting in Bermuda. I know if we don't win the Cup in 1994, that I can certainly develop the appropriate skills and strategy in Bermuda to succeed in 1995.

     Go CCV.