Comp2009

The MFC prides itself on the tenent of "Continual Improvement." Never was that more evident than in this year's rendition of Masters Friday. Set to defend his 2008 Green Jacket, The Ozone Club's Walter Smedley III returned with vigor...and with a few extra friends to boot. To ensure his game returned in top form from hibernation, Walter and his 3-man posse descended on Houston three days prior to our event. In true MFC form, we ensured our guests were well attended to, and we arranged three inter-club matches in Ryder Cup format (View photos here). The confederate team jumped out to a commanding lead grabbing 15 of the 16 points. With 32 points available, the Union would have to post a 15.5 point rally in the late matches to secure victory ... and that's exactly what happened. Except it was the MFC dolling out the punishment. In the end, the Home team defended her turf 30.5 to 1.5. In the end, a great time had by all, and the bar for "Master's Week" has been raised to an entirely new level. Worthy of note is Don Vrba for putting together a most memorable event in the MFC Room at Pappas...."Have some Medira My Dear!"

With the pre-Friday festivites coming to a close, and the Ozoner's licking their collective wounds, there was a keen focus on how this group could keep the Green Jacket in Pennsylvania. Enter Ozone probationary member, Frank McGill. Still under close observation and enduring the vetting process for entry into the exclusive Ozone Club, Frank did more to advance his cause than any Million Dollar reference ever could...He bested the field, and grabbed the crown jewel of the MFC...The Green Jacket. Congratulations Frank!

On a side note, PGA Professional, Anthony Kim recorded a record setting 11 birdies in round 2.

“The Eagle Has Landed!”

The Woody Cup, once again, was up for grabs on the 18th green. Our own Michael Gandolfo was safely in the clubhouse posted at +5, (just edging past Peter Vescovolez at +4), when Ronny Byrd stepped up to the 18th tee.

Bird-man was -1 to his quota. A birdie would only secure him a 3rd place finish...nothing short of an Eagle would secure the cup. Going for broke, he sucessfully cuts the corner of this severe dog-leg with his drive, but finds his ball in a precarious lie in the fairway bunker. Not able to get his feet in the bunker, Ronny, while standing outside the bunker, (some two feet above his ball), somehow hacks it out, dropping his approach shot 20 feet above the traditional Sunday front pin. With the Stemp meter begging to send his ball off the front of the green, he nudges his putt softly, and then waits...The slow, but eternally rolling putt, is never in doubt, and is center cut giving Ronny an 8 point Eagle bringing his total up to +7.

The Woody Cup now has another moniker to add to its long list of dramatic finishes (“Shot heard around the 17th fairway,” “The improbable 2-putt”)…This year, it is “The Eagle has Landed.”