After a two-year hiatus due to covid, players from California, Oregon, and Washington renewed their rivalry for the fifth time at Centennial Golf Club in Medford, Ore., on Nov. 5-6, 2022. This year’s contest got a late start (too late by some measure) due to the fact that several of the players were in Scotland most of October to play in the World Hickory Open.
The weather forecast leading up to the matches was dire with predictions of 100% chance of rain. But as play began on Day 1, the rains stopped and the players were spared the wet stuff. Chapman was the format of play the first day. A Chapman golf tournament is a team event with two players hitting a drive, then switching drives, and then choosing the best ball to play into the hole from there.
Needing a last-minute fill-in, Alex Jacobberger, the food and beverage manager at the club, bravely stepped in to take on Steve Henneuse in a singles match. With nine players a side, the California-Oregon team took an early 3-2 lead, with two matches being halved. Jacobberger, a first-time hickory player using borrowed clubs, lost 4 and 3 which was a fine showing against the California champion.
Day 2 format was singles matches with concurrent four ball matches. Once again, the rains stayed away and the day was pleasant enough until the winds picked up in the second half of the matches. One player remarked on the incongruity of tumbleweeds running across the green and damp fairways. The matches on Day 2 were decidedly unbalanced with teams winning by wide margins of 5 and 4, 6 and 5, and 7 and 6, and two defaulted matches. One exception was the Glenn Thatcher vs. Jeff Lefferts match which came down to the last hole with Lefferts prevailing 1 up against a fine player.
Feature player for the California-Oregon team was young Riley Wong, who, driving at times 100 yards past his (dare I say cowed?) opponents, dazzled all those who watched. Riley drove the green on the par 4 12th, mercifully ending the match 7 and 6. As the winds were in full force by this time, and having faced also the full force of the Riley Wong / Shawn Baker tandem, the two Robs (Birman and Ahlschwede), who were paired together, were only too glad to end the matches then and there to seek safe haven only to be found later quaffing a beer or two in the bar.
Plaudits to Albert Bruno and Eddie Johnson for garnering all three points for their respective teams. They were handsomely rewarded for their accomplishment.
Final score: California-Oregon: 9 points. Washington: 8 points.
Riley Wong, left, accepting the coveted COW Belt and COW Bell with tournament host Martin Pool.
The winning California-Oregon team. From left: Shawn Baker, Glenn Thatcher, Floyd Lockie, and Riley Wong.