Phi Alpha 2006: New Year, Old Controversy

Monday, May 8th, 2006

The 2006 Phi Alpha Cup was further damaged amid more controversial moments.

Cup and Player Reputations Further Sullied

May 8, 2006
It may has well been raining surrender flags on the soaked soil of the Cardinal Course at the Country Club of North Carolina during the final Singles matches of the 2006 Phi Alpha Cup. After a determined start by the trailing Team 1997, controversial Cup figure John Stubbs (see STORY) called the matches because of rain after 9 holes of golf, leaving both teams and golf fans everywhere empty for a second straight year.

“If it rains in the forest,” said Stubbs, a longtime fan of maritime and nature folklore, “and you are inside your cabin, is it really raining?”

“Yes,” said an emphatic Andrew Parker, who put forth one of the finest Phi Alpha performances in recent Cup history. “Our team trained in the rain. We ate and slept in the rain. To call the matches after a few raindrops diminishes the accomplishments of the golfers that came before us, namely those in Scotland or in any rain forest across the globe.”

For the second straight year, Stirling Bomar escaped from the premises with the Cup in hand before any sort of resolution could be determined.

Team 1998 took the Saturday Scramble match after splitting the morning matches with Team 1997. Although down 3-1 going into Sunday’s Singles, Team 1997 came out with a fury that had not been seen since the inaugural matches in 2005, leaving many to question what the outcome of the Cup would have ultimately been.

“After two years of this, it’s time we re-visit the Cup’s Charter and make some revisions to the rules. It’s not fair to the fans, and it’s not fair to the players. We deserve a clear winner at this event,” said 1997’s Andy Sands.

“I visited the Charter the other day actually. It’s all good,” rebutted ’98’s David Johnson.

Jeff Cohen could not be reached for comment because he was not at the matches.