It has been four years since the CGA had a Match Play Champion other than Scott Schoemer. Saturday, at Black Diamond, The Commash put an end to a streak that, let's face it, is never going to be broken. At least not in our lifetimes. Years from now, when the Commash's daughters are dominating the Underwood girls, maybe. But still that's a long time from now.
First, we must pay homage to The Streak. It started at Granville in 2004 when Schoemer took his first Championship at his favorite course. Number two came at Sawmill Creek in Huron, Ohio in 2005. Number three came at Cook's Creek in 2006. And number four came at Black Diamond in 2007. Four championships on four different courses in four years. No matter how you slice it (sorry for the pun), it is as impressive an accomplishment as you are ever going to see in this league.
The Commash earned a #1 seed in the tournament this year, but his reward was a first round tilt with four time defending Champion Schoemer. The course that Schoemer proved last year was not "Schoemer-proof" won the rematch. Schoemer had difficulty putting his tee shots in play, while the Commash was a fairway-finding machine all day long. After beating Scheomer, The Commash took care of pardsie Peter Ebel and new best buddy Brett Southworth in order. Then he found himself in a final match that almost seemed scripted by Hollywood -- The Commash vs. Brad Underwood. Some in the gallery were wondering: was this Old Commash vs. New Commash? Underwood summed it up best before the match: "12,714 emails later and finally, here we are."
Things looked rather unexciting as The Commash built a 3 up lead with four holes to play. But as the crowd started to increase, so did the level of Undy's game. Undy took holes 6 and 7 to rally to within one with two holes to play. On the 8th and deciding hole, Undy found a large waste bunker on the left and was not able to get his second shot close. From there, aproximately 80 feet from the cup, Undy five-putted. With The Commash looking at a 6 footer for par, Undy conceded the hole and the Championship.
There are only two things that you can get CGA'ers to agree on: 1) CGA'ers will disagree on most everything; and 2) Ryan Webb knows how to throw a post-major party. For the second year in a row, Webbie put together an awesome party following the event. The feature attraction was a top shelf steak dinner with all the fixins cooked up by Chef Webb himself. That, and a 35 gross in Week 16, makes Webb the Player of the Week. Hands down. Thanks again Ryan! Money, money, right, KEEP!
As far as the regular season, it looks like a four team race for the team title, and a three man race for the individual title -- with two weeks to play. The Commash holds a 3 point lead over Budzik and Swanson, who are tied for 2nd. If he can hold on, The Commash will become the first player ever to win the Individual Title and the CGA Match Play Championship in the same season. He would also become the first player to earn a Career CGA Slam (the TEA, the CGA, a Team Title and an Individual Title). Nobody wants to hear The Commash sing "My Way" during his retirement speech, so expect a feisty battle to the end from both Budzie and Swannie.
The duo with two hands on the team trophy is Bob Evans. The Bobs have a precarious 17 point lead over Carry the Bag. The lead is 20 points over High & Mighty and 23 points over Higher Stakes. With two events to go, it is a full on sprint to the finish. The Marquee Matchup in Week 17 will be Carry the Bag vs. Higher Stakes. The Bobs square off against Schoe Me Wood, while High & Mighty needs a solid win against Rollin J's.
NOTE: The 2008 Money List, the Career Money List and the Wall of Fame have all been updated through the 2008 CGA Championship.
