2008 Phi Alpha Cup Preview

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

The 2008 Phi Alpha Cup should be one of the most tightly-contested in recent memory.

Team 1998’s Cup Campaign May Lack Super Delegates

April 30, 2008
Having thoroughly enjoyed the spoils of their 2007 victory, off the course issues, injuries and perhaps an overconfident attitude have Team 1997 facing a determined Team 1998 in the 2008 edition of the Phi Alpha Cup, held May 2-4 in St. James Plantation, NC. The ‘98ers are led by their captain David Johnson, who used last year’s loss as motivation during a 9-month training overhaul which has resulted in two career low rounds leading into this year’s Cup. Even with the periodic collapses of his teammates during the 2007 Cup, Johnson may be playing well enough to lead his team to victory. Meanwhile, Team 1997’s Andy Sands’ much talked about injury status has him questionable, and Chandler Willett has spent the off-season pursuing other career opportunities, largely ignoring his preparation routine. These issues, among others, have the once highly-favored Team 1997 facing a tough battle in the 2008 Phi Alpha Cup. We break down the matches below.

Friday 1-4 / 2-3 Cumulative Round

Last year, Team 1997 breezed to a 2-0 lead when Team 1998 stumbled out of the gate. Out of sync with a new lineup, Team 1998 ceded full control of the Cup to Team 1997. This year, not much should change. Even with a severely injured Andy Sands and Chandler Willett off his playing weight, the match-ups do not favor Team 1998. David Johnson’s superb play in the Spring is not enough to offset the erratic play of teammate Winston Black against Andy Sands and the coming of age “Scuba” Steve Burr. Similarly, bookend tournament days have not been kind to 1998’s Stirling Bomar, and he hasn’t teamed up well with teammate Jeff Eaton in previous years. Andrew Parker and Chandler Willett’s steady play should be enough to pull out a close victory here.
Advantage Team 1997 (2 points)

Saturday 1-2 / 3-4 Best Ball

While Friday morning’s match-ups favor Team 1997, Team 1998 can breathe a little easier when Saturday morning rolls around. In the 1-2 match, the team of Johnson and Bomar have split the past two years with ‘97’s Sands and Parker. Although Parker is considered by many as the ultimate gamer, this year, Johnson’s hot streak and Bomar’s steadying domestic situation are too much for Parker to overcome by himself without any help from the crippled Sands. In the second match, history repeats itself as they say, with Willett and Burr yet to prove they are a compatible team. And while Bomar (see story “Sundays Not Kind to Bomar”) and Eaton (see story “The Call That Lost the Cup”) have demonstrated catastrophic chemistry issues as teammates, Eaton plays quite well with teammate Winston Black. Don’t look for any cell phone calls to lose Team 1998 any matches until Sunday.

Advantage Team 1998 (2 points)

Saturday Scramble

No team has ever lost the Saturday Scramble and held on to win the Phi Alpha Cup. This PAC edition could be the one that changes history. Team 1997 has a tendency to freckle their rounds strings of birdies and strings of bogeys. Problem is, they usually finish with the latter. Team 1998 showed great closing ability last year, playing incredibly loose, and coming back from a 3-stroke deficit to take a 1-stroke lead going into the final hole and forcing Team 1997 to birdie 18 to halve the match. Playing loose has its advantages in this type of match, and the Team with the highest BAC usually wins. This year however, their usual catalyst in this department, Bomar, walks the straight and narrow to an uninspired performance and picks up where Eaton left off last year, shattering Eaton’s 2007 Blackberry text messaging record. Unfortunately for Team 1997, they are unable to capitalize since Sands’ “wheelchair buzz” is quite literal this year with his chronic injuries. Team 1997 looses a wheel and crashes again.

Advantage Team 1998 (2 points)

Johnson-Sands Sunday Singles

Johnson is playing the best golf of his career. Sands is playing with one leg. If you’re watching at home, be ready for lots of “Highlights from 2007” filler. Blowout.
Advantage Team 1998 (1 point)

Bomar-Parker Sunday Singles

Last year’s winner of the Purple Funnel and newly engaged, Sobo (as he is affectionately called by his new fiancé) has been rumored to have lost his edge. Not a good scenario for a player who holds every worst Sunday blowout record in the Phi Alpha Cup record books (see story “Sundays Not Kind to Bomar”). Parker on the other hand, has never lost on Sunday. TV audience, get ready for more 2007 Highlights. This one was over when the pairings were announced.

Advantage Team 1997 (1 point)

Eaton-Willett Sunday Singles

Anxious to redeem himself with teammates and silence critics that compared last year’s drowning of his own team to Chris Webber’s timeout that cost Michigan the 1993 national title (see story “The Call That Lost the Cup”), Eaton has a lot to prove. Willett however, even though he has not touched a club since the 2007 event, seems to have Eaton’s number. Unfortunately, so does Eaton’s wife Theresa. Eaton’s bat phone and backup beeper derail him again. Can you hear me now?

Advantage Team 1997 (1 point)

Black-Burr Sunday Singles

It wasn’t too long ago when critics wondered when “Scuba” Steve Burr would add a win to his PAC record. However, 2007 was the year of the Burrito. Answering Team 1998’s IBD chants (“In Burr’s Dome!”), Burr put together the finest 4 seed performance in Phi Alpha history. This year’s match will give Burr the opportunity to prove that 2007 was no fluke. Black flames out on Fu’s party bus, taking home the 2008 Purple Funnel, but falling short on the green golf course. Burr’s guarantee of victory is granted, and Aquaman goes back to Hoboken a Superhero.

Advantage Team 1997 (1 point)

FINAL SCORE 5-5; TEAM 1997 RETAINS CUP