Wisconsin Invitational Roster & Individual Results - 2002

chuck | cou | bob | zak | scott | brice | brooks | kane | everhart | buckun
jason | higgins | mark murphy | keith murphy | a.p. | larry | chad c | chad a|

Chuck Calamari	Aka: Tuna, Cheater
Barrington, IL	Four Winds Golf Club
Year Hcap Place Gross Net   2001 20 12   +16   2000 17 4th 372 +9   1999 15 12th 388 +42   1998 15 T-3rd 352 +6   1997 17 7th 377 +24   1996 17 6th 385 +38	1997 Comments Chuck is probably one of the craftier golfers in this year's tournament.  Adding a knock down game to his arsenal will increase the bevy of shots he can throw at you.  Willfully taking money from the Saturday morning group, Chuck is always under fire for manipulating his handicap or implementing drop-pocket slacks technology along the wetlands at Red Tail.  Always walk carefully in areas where Chuck has recently swung, 3-4 inch craters are usually left in the aftermath of his outside in swing.   Bad left foot from his recent triathlons will slow down his hip turn.  Fourth kid hasn't slowed him down but a recent 82 at Red Tail will hurt his cap for the big tournament.  Needs to keep it between the trees at Brightondale to have a shot on Saturday.

Mike Cousineau	Aka: Cou
Tecumseh, MI	Home Course: "Where ever the WI is"
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 25 T2   -11 2000 25 11 415 +28 1999 25 Champ 372 -14 1998 23 12 410 +32 1997 24 4th 395 +14 1996 22 4th 400 +33	Headlines read "Cou pulls off major coup", attending the 2000 WI will cost Cou over the long haul, but, the WI is the best 48hrs of the year, worth every marital point spent. 1999 was Cou's breakout year, displaying tremendous consistency, unusual in a 25 handicap. His WI scores have been coming down consistently, watch for this possible 20? handicap to shine in 2000.

1997 Comments
Cou is pulling what some would call the old "Chuck Calamari".  Cou's venture to the Wisconsin Invitation is stealth in nature and comes a mere 4 weeks prior to little Cou being born.  This heroic effort rivals some of Chuck's best work and Golfer X's stealth mission to California earlier this year.  Cou is politicking early for handicap adjustments…stating lack of play (is Triad making him work more than Tue-Thur?) and last years showing as evidence of wrongful handicap.  Cou is extremely capable of throwing a 52-39 at you and he is not afraid to throw money at any golfing problem. The latest technology along with a couple top-of-the-line ball retrievers can be found in Cou's bag.  Cou's presence at this year's invitational sets the stage for another memorable event.  If he can avoid the 109 that he muscled his way to at Abbey Springs last year, expect him in the hunt. Glad to have you on board Cou!!!

 

Bob Johnson	Aka: Big Bob, Big Capper
Barrington, IL*	Home Course: Four Winds Golf Club
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 12 6   +2 2000 15 7 358 +21 1999 12 8th 362 +28 1998 16 T-5th 357 +7 1997 20 3rd 371 +6 1996 28 7th 432 +47	1997:This year brings us a whole new Bob Johnson.  Heavy playing along with an aggressive attitude towards throwing money at all of his golf problems lands us with our biggest change in handicap in the group.  Odyssey putter, Ping ISI irons, Burner Bubble woods and a very neutral temper will give Bob a whole new life after last years explosions…109, 112, 105, 104.  Four balloons in a row landed him in seventh place and you can expect that to change in 1997. Signs of brilliance have been mostly seen on individual holes or at the Randall Oaks course he calls home (the only thing missing there is the windmill, cotton candy and the Sears Tower).   Read a story here about golfing with Bob.

Bob's game is off a tad this year, new kid, new swing, new clubs all are taking a toll on the previous "Most Improved" player.
1997 Comments
The last few weeks have seen Bob's game around the greens improve drastically, an open face wedge that lands him near the stick is working hard to offset the tomahawk sand swing that leaves him in more traps than not.  Bob is up there with best of them in terms of fun people to play with…great temperment!  Brightondale could hurt this up and comer, conservative play on Friday may put him in the thick of things on Saturday.

 

Jeff Zak	Aka: Zak, Slappy
Chicago, IL	Home Course: Four Winds Golf Course
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 20 19   +29 2000 21 Champ 374 +3 1999 18 T-6th 370 +12 1998 17 10th 373 +18 1997 19 6th 381 +20 1996 20 3rd 385 +24	If he can skate through Brightondale without playing Lewis and Clark in the woods, he WILL be in the hunt.  Another believer in golf technology and throwing money at a golf problem, Zak will unleash his $405 Greatest Big Bertha on Brightondale and the other courses.  When this weapon fails, keep your eyes peeled for the puppet, the acclaimer (alien in disguise), little poison and a few other expensive little ditties he may throw at you.  Jeff can be caught watching golf infomercials with his Visa in one hand and the phone in the other.

Scott Freeman	Aka: Scooter
Chicago, IL	Home Course: Four Winds Golf Course
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 9 T2   -11 2000 8 6 338 +19 1999 8 5 325 +7 1998 9 Champ 324 +1 1997 12 Champ 333 0 1996 12 Champ 327 0	Scooters move to California should have kept his game in top notch form, but rumor has it he's been cruising High School cheerleader car washs in his boxster instead of spending time on the course. He will want some strokes, but won't get them. Although painful due the slow nature of his game, Scott's swing is the purest of the bunch and he stands heads above the group as the premier golfer.  Keeping it under 165 strokes on day 1 will put Scott where he needs to be.

1997 Comments
The 1996 champion will be back this year to defend his title.  Instead of having bells and whistles on, last years champion will be shrouded in controversy.  Plagued with back problems and a golf game that just hasn't come around, Scott will be working very hard to defend his title.  Although the game hasn't clicked and he hasn't broken 80, Brightondale sets up very well for Scott's game. Scott, although not a team player based on his severe problems in scramble formats, flourishes in stroke play format and his lack of distance this year will help him keep it in the fairways more so than ever.  Scott's stunning 79-78 on opening day last year set the stage for the rest of the tournament.  What makes this even more exciting is that it came on the heels of a day-prior "my back hurts" handicap adjustment that netted him 8 strokes on Kane who wound up taking second by 13 strokes. 

 

Brice Brown	Aka: Bricer, Shrown
Franklin, WI	Home Course: 187798
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 21 Champ   -14 2000 19 8th 385 +22 1999 21 3rd 368 -2 1998 22 2nd 377 +3 1997 24 2nd 386 +5 1996	Brice treats the WI like an ATM machine, he shows up, turns in his scorecards and collects money. His handicap is trending down, and he will need to do some begging to not go further down. If you get invited to the Brice Cajun Fest in Milwaukee, DON'T miss it, best food north of Nawlins. (Thanks Debbie) Still scarred from the "chinese menu" poker incident four years ago, Brice may be looking to chase a few bets at the card table.  Avoiding the 95+ round will keep him in the mix!  Click here for a better picture of Brice.

1997 Comments
Brice Brown will be  a fine addition to this year's tournament.  Brice took part in the 1990 Arizona golf trip which featured, Scott, Kane, Brice and Mark Anderson, hacking away at the desert courses in the middle of the summer.  The highlight of the trip was clearly Brice's 150 yard shot that trickled in the hole followed by Mark slurring and stumbling in the excitement due to the mix of beer, chew and sun.  Brice will be one of those middle cappers that can throw a 40 in your face. 

Mike Brooks	Aka: Brookzy
Northbrook, IL	Home Course: Abbey Springs148466
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 18 10   +12 2000 18 5 372 +13 1999 18 2 354 -4 1998 19 T-3 368 +6 1997 19 9 393 +27 1996 18 8 402 +51	1997 Comments Mike is credited with giving the group the opportunity to play the closing round at Abbey Springs.  The circus-like atmosphere includes too many blind shots and undulated greens that drove everyone crazy (the group of 8 included three 100+ rounds).  Earlier this year, Mike threw a 50-40 or something like that at the Red Tail group.  Opening day explosions at Brightondale of 98-111 put him at the back of the pack heading into day 2. Big swing off the tee and methodical play combined for some trouble on day 1.  Flashes of brilliance on the back nine at Red Tail confirms that Mike can muscle up if he keeps it between the trees.  Under the 185 mark after day 1 will put him in the top 4 going into day 2.

"That's Deep!"   Enuf said.

 

Kane Calamari	Aka: Regulator
Libertville, IL	Home Course: Four Winds Golf Course
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 9 4th   -3 2000 10 2nd 331 +4 1999 11 4th 334 +4 1998 9 T-6th 329 +7 1997 10 5th 344 +19 1996 10 2nd 333 +14	Kane's game hasn't changed in 4 years, long and left. Biggest handicap is between the ears, if he leaves the woods at home, I am putting all my pari-mutual money on the pumpkinhead. 1997 Comments: When Kane swings there are two simple rules…look immediately to your right after he swings…if you can't find the ball…look left.  Right to left has been causing major problems this year.  Sweeping, hooking, call it what you want, it won't fly at Brightondale.  Scraping his way around the course this year, Kane's roller coaster golf game has landed him anywhere from 100 on opening day in Grayslake to 76 out at Red Tail.  History tells us that Kane will fold at Brightondale even though his efforts landed him 13 strokes, 8 of which were charity, behind Scooter last year.  Needs to hold the gross under 165 on Friday to have any chance.

Bob Everhart	Aka: Bob, Party Doll
IL	Home Course: Stonewall Orchard
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 24 T12th   +16 2000 23 12th 415 +36 1999 21 11th 409 +39 1998 BANNED       1997 20 DNF     1996	Haven't heard much from Bob, claim to fame is being 1 of only 2 players ever permanently banned from WI competition. A cooler of beer got the ban annulled after 1 year. 1997 Comments Close friend of Tony's that will be participating in this year's invitational.  Team sandbagging seems to be the name of the game since Tony has stated that Bob is a couple of strokes off of him.  Help from Mike Brooks on establishing these caps will be encouraged.  Good luck to Bob this year and welcome to the invitational.

Tony Buckun	Nickname:will be Sandbagger if he wins this thing
IL	Home Course:
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 13 14th   +22 2000 13 3rd 347 +8 1999 13 7th 354 +16 1998 BANNED       1997 19 DNF     1996	A fierce competitor, Tony could be in the hunt, a late night at Sugar Shack could slow down his game on Saturday though. 1997 :As any smart golfer would do, Tony immediately began handicap negotiations!.  Barking out the fact that he threw down a balloon (100) at Chevy Chase recently, he was quick to add the typical sandbagging lines "I'm playing like crap", "90 this 90 that".  Interesting to note that most comments the year prior were in the 80 this 80 that range.  Playing volume is not an issue with Tony as the law office of Buckun & Buckun shuts down at 11:00 a.m. on most sunny days in the summer.

Jason Cashmore	Aka: Otis
IL	Home Course: The Putting Green at ISK
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 28 17th   +27 2000 23 13 427 +48	Jason will be a handicapping project, after last years VanTreeck  handicapping problem, Jason may emerge with a pretty favorable number for a rookie.

Pete Higgins	Aka: The Brit, Another smoking man
NC	Home Course:
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 21 7th   +4 2000         1999 18 10 383 +34	Pete is back, newly married in 2001, joining us for the WI-6 even though it is his wifes birthday! Way to go Pete!

Mark Murphy	Aka: Murf
GA	Home Course:
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 20 9th   +11 2000         1999 20 9 396 +30	2001 is Murf's second WI. Gambling, golfing, and beer drinking, not sure how Murf has stayed away. Carries customs clubs made by Louisville Slugger.

A.P.	Aka: The Smoking Man
Chicago, IL	Home Course:
Year Hcap Place Gross Net 2001 17 11th   +14 2000         1999         1998         1997 16 8 377 +28 1996	Hasn't been seen since 1997

Name:           John Pircher
Nickname:       TBD
Est. Hcp:       TBD

Waiting for details about John, but early rumor has him being a sneaky long player, rookie status though will mean poor pairings, and much ridicule until he finds the top of the leaderboard. Good luck this year John.
 

Name:           Jim Metzger
Nickname:       Jimmy
1999 Hcap: 13
1998 Hcap: 12
1997 Hcap: 14
1996 Hcap: 11

Jim is due for a good tournament this year, the WI nightlife, and his concentration on bean bag tossing instead of putting hurt Jim's WI game.

1997 Comments
Jim is simply the biggest hitter you'll find in this group.  His Tiger-esque swing delivers a clubhead speed in the 120-130 mph range. Chuck has been overhead saying , "If I wrapped the club that far around, I wouldn't move for three days".  Jimmy's performance last year was less than satisfactory.  Handing out a stroke to Scott was heavily questioned prior
to the start of the invitational.  Jim's 18 stroke swing from round 1 to round 3 was the largest in the group (99, 88, 81, 90).  The near-balloon in round 1 was a back breaker although he tied for best round honors at Evergreen on Saturday morning.  Brightondale will punish him again if he doesn't come straight off of the tee.  Look for some heavy stroke negotiating and hopefully a slew of irons off the tee on Friday. 
 

Name:           Randy Schudulla
Nickname:       The Cajun Man
Est. Hcp:      

Early arrival on leaderboard, then late plummet off, lead to an early departure for Randy, which has riled the WI organizers. Haven't heard from Randy yet regarding 2000.

Name:           Bob Calamari
Nickname:       Dad, Bobby, Mr C.
Est. Hcp:      10

Needs to hold up physically to compete, if the WI was 1 round, or even 2, he would probably be one of the favorites. A complete meltdown of his back kept him from the prize money in 1999. if healthy watch out .