Oct. 5-6, 2019
Martin Pool reports:
Some love the ocean, others the mountains. If you are inclined toward the latter, and you are a golfer, you will not find a more spectacular venue to hold a golf contest than the Lake Shastina Golf Resort at the foot of the magnificent Mount Shasta near Weed, California.
Led by the Mighty Andrew, that Slayer of Parfives, from the House of Von Lossow, the formidable northern horde arrived at this site to battle their southern foe once again. Hickory players from Washington, Northern Oregon, and a mercenary from Idaho (that raconteur Tracy) contested the southern force from California and Southern Oregon in the 4th annual C.O.W. (California, Oregon, Washington) Cup.
On paper the invading northern army, consisting of multiple past champions from the World Hickory Open as well as the U.S. Hickory Open, looked too strong against the opposing force. And indeed, the first day of battle proved very one-sided. With seven teams a side and playing a Chapman format, the day ended in a rout for the Washington-Oregon side as it forged ahead 6½ points to a meager ½ point for the California-Oregon side.
(For those who don’t know, the Chapman System is the name of a 2-person team competition format for golfers. Both golfers on the side hit drives. Each plays the other’s ball for the second shots. The best of the second shots is selected, and from there the two partners play alternate shot into the hole.)
In the evening, the two sides retired to the Viskochil Castle in the woods, where Lord Steve and Lady Jaci hosted (and ably assisted by the flying minstrel Michael) a magnificent feast of roast and grog.
Would Day 2 bring similar results as Day 1? Early the next day, the two sides lined up for the singles and concurrent fourball matches with 21 points at stake. Bloodied but not vanquished, the southern team fought back valiantly to try to erase the memory of that first day. The tandem of Niehaus and Sweeney gained two points to one over the team of Guenette and Birman. Then Erik the Great of Beer avenged his loss to the noble John Henry from the previous year by winning 1 up. The next team of Sirs Surano and Bell won 2 ½ points to ½ point over the team of Sirs Tracy and Bruno.
All of a sudden, in a remarkable show of courage, the southern forces were ahead on the second day by a score of 5 ½ to 3 ½.
Then South’s champion, Sir Stephen, of the House of Henneuse, battled the Mighty Andrew, taking the latter to the 17th, but could not overtake his foe. Thus inspired and regaining their courage behind their victorious champion, the North once again re-asserted itself, and the day’s battle was finally won 13 to 8. For the fourth year in a row, the match between Lady Roberta and Lady Stacy went to the final hole with the former winning 2 up.
The final total for the two days was 19½ to 8½ on the side of the northern horde. “Sgioba Buadhach,” (“Victorious Team”) read the inscription on the backs of the medals awarded to the Washington-Oregon-Idaho team.
The two sides are now tied 2-2. Fare thee well, worthy foes, sheath your mashies and niblicks. Till we meet again in the next field of battle.
Click for photos: COW Cup Facebook