DRAMATIC FINISH DECIDED WITH TIE BREAKER AT 19TH

2006 DOUGLAS CUP CHAMPS

The day started off with a seldom used rule dispute and finished with the first Douglas Cup being decided by a tie breaker chip off on the 19th hole.

The white team stormed back from 5 points down to tie the match on the 18th hole, while 20 golf carts followed the final foursome down the 18th fairway. The white team of Bryan Pennington and Matt Lief successfully defeated the Blue team of Ivan Borodiak and Bob Sullivan to complete the sweep of the last 4 points and force a tie breaking chip off. Captains, Jeff Douglas and Ramon Bardales, went to the 19th to chip, one shot, closest to the pin, to decide the cup. Ramon Bardales, lofted his chip 30 feet past the pin and Jeff Douglas hit his chip into the water providing the Blue Team with the slimmest margin of victory possible. The suspense proved infectious as the drama unfolded.The day started with the blue team taking an early lead in matches between the B-C players. The blue team held a commanding 5 point lead, with only

10 points to be decided. With wins in the late B-C singles match, the white team remained 4 points behind.. With 8 points left to be decided on the final six holes the white team won 2 of the first 3 matches in alternate shot format, leaving the white team only two points down with 2 points to be decided. The crowd, realizing the importance of the final match, joined the final foursome on the 17th hole and watched the white team take a 1 hole advantage with one hole to play. On the final hole, after the second shots, the blue team seemed in control to tie the match and secure a Blue team victory. Ivan Borodiak placed his shot in the middle of the fairway 150 yards from the pin, while Bryan Pennington’s second shot landed in a deep pot bunker 165 from the pin. The 20 handicappers were to take the next shot. Matt Lief nervously entered the pot bunker and successfully chipped to within 100 yards and Bryan Pennington lofted a wedge to within 25 feet. Two puts later the match tournament would end all even, at 20 –20.

Jeff Douglas and Dave Salerno, weeks earlier, discussed how great it would be if the match came down to the last foursome to decide a winner, never considering the possibility of a tie score. As the day unfolded their wish came true. With a 20 to 20 tie, the Douglas Cup ensured it’s place on the tournament schedule of PGC for many years to come.

The suspense continued to grow as Paul Crespo tallied the results confirming a tie score. The suspense ended when the founder of the tournament, missed the final chip, providing Ramon Bardales and the Blue team a hard fought victory. After the cup was presented and the pictures were taken on the 18th green the blue team chanted, “Ramon dive” urging the blue captain to complete the celebration with a dive into the pond on the 18th green. Ramon threw off his glasses and hat and happily belly flopped for his fellow team mates.