Melbourne Cup Cup 2007

‘Brendan Proves the Bros-Cycle is Broken’

Yarra Bend, 6^th November, 2007: This year Steph went one step further with his 6.15am Car Park Coffee Club by introducing a gas stove and twin percolators. So, as players arrived to contest the annual Melbourne Cup Cup for 2007, a high quality hot cup of tea or coffee was immediately available in the Yarra Bend Golf Course car park. “It was the perfect start. Caffeine in the car park before tee off, a definite improvement” smiled Ashley approvingly, who has attended almost every Melbourne Cup Cup since its inception fifteen or so years ago and thus was in a position to know (see car park photos).

A Very Competitive Field: As usual, the event attracted a strong field of competitors including local, regional and interstate players. All were competing for that famous replica of the ‘The Melbourne Cup’ trophy (the horserace event held in Melbourne on the same day). As an aside, ‘The Brothers’ were known for the quality of the trophies and prizes provided over the years of MCC events. “In fact, ‘The Brothers’ won most of those quality trophies and prizes themselves” suggested Ashley who was recalling that one or the other brother had won almost every MCC since the inception of the event.

That is, until last year when Brendan broke the bro-cycle by beating Steve by one stroke. Well what a sensation it was. The media went wild and the Brothers were not happy, or at least they were both surprised. It took them a while to get used to the idea. The question on everybody’s lips this year is – Was last year a one off chance occurrence or had the long term bro-cycle really been broken? Note: Technically, that’s not correct because Gordon has also won the MCC some years ago, but that’s another story (see nnomads web site, 22/02/2007, The MCC article).

Well Credentialed Players: Just to illustrate the quality of the field, the first player group off the tee consisted of Pete (co Sponsor and multiple past winner MCC), Tim (multiple winner of the BIT), Steph (winner BIT 2006) and Ashley (long term MCC competitor). They were followed in the second group by Harry (2007 winner PIS), Brendan (2006 MCC winner plus multiple other titles), Fritz (will always be there for tee off) and Tom (2006 club champion plus multiple other titles). The final group contained Steve (Co Sponsor, multiple MCC winner, TSCC 2007 winner, SHIT 2007 winner, also known as the ‘Callaway King’), Emile (winner of the BIT 2007), Ian (past club champion 2003 and multiple other titles) and Bryan (winner ABLARU 2007, Uralba 2006 and other titles) (see photos of player groups). Clearly this was a very experienced and well credentialed field.

Perfect Conditions for Callaway Golf: It was clear and crisp as the first player group teed off close to 7.00am. There was dew on the fairways and hot air balloons in the air against a clear blue sky background. The conditions were perfect, and the scene was set to produce some spectacular golf (see photos of on and off the course). And Brendan and Steve were not going to disappoint, but we will come to that.

As members know, but others may not, this was a Callaway event, whereby the game is scored according to Callaway rules. In essence, the Callaway system creates a handicap for all players and the lowest net score, using the Callaway handicap, wins the event (see scores below). The interesting thing is the bizarre way it calculates the handicap, including leaving out the worst holes and using an adjustment factor depending on the gross score (see a description of the Callaway system under Club Rules, on the nnomads Golf Club website). “Actually the system is very good. It’s worked very well for Steve and I over the years” explained Pete, who was responsible for scoring the MCC event. “And Steve knows what to do in a Callaway event. They don’t call him the Callaway King for nothing” added Brendan, trying to deflect attention from himself early in the game.

Only A Stroke in It: So low and behold, it was almost a repeat of last year where there was only one stroke between Brendan and Steve. This year Brendan got around Yarra Bend in 81 off the stick, a very impressive performance. With his Callaway handicap of ‘8’ he ended up a net 73. Steve got around in 90 strokes gross and after his Callaway handicap of ‘16’ ended up net 74. So once again, Brendan has won the Melbourne Cup Cup and Steve is once again runner up, one stroke behind. It would appear that the cycle of the Bros is really broken introducing a new era in the MCC history. “And about time too and I’m glad to be the one to do it” smiled Brendan as the crowd started to consider the implications of Brendan’s win.

Presentations Lived Up To Expectations: Pete was the official scorer for the day and the MC for the presentations. And it was good to see both brothers smile as the Winner’s trophy was handed to Brendan for 2007. “And now I have two trophies” he gloated as held the 2007 trophy aloft, at which point Steve stopped smiling as energetically as he was previously. Other prize winners received a real treat. To keep up with the image of quality and interesting trophies, Pete sourced some very attractive Pins with a little cup on them for 2007. These went to Steve who was runner up in 2007 (he started to smile again), Bryan C who was best interstate player 2007, Steph who got the longest drive 2007 and Brendan who also got the NTP 2007. “And very attractive they were too. I’ll wear mine with pride” pronounced Bryan as he was presented with his pin. “Yes, it’s has sort of feel doesn’t it?” added Steph holding up his pin for the media. (see 2007 presentations).

Is the Cycle Really Broken?: Most players were very polite at the presentations and celebrations afterwards. Other than Brendan gloating, there was no sniggering and most didn’t comment on the obvious point that two years in a row one of the Brothers had not won the event. “I think that was because most of us were thinking to ourselves, “maybe I could win a MCC trophy too?” suggested Bryan C later, who was particularly impressed with the winners trophy, as a first timer. “Yes, and they go well on the mantelpiece, don’t they Brendan?” snorted Steve who had quite a number MCC trophies on his mantelpiece. “I always thought so” added Pete, who also had quite a number MCC trophies on his mantelpiece.

And so history was made. Someone other than ‘The Brothers’ won the Melbourne Cup Cup in 2007, and that someone was Brendan for the second time in a row. The Club Committee congratulates Brendan on his historic win in 2006 and 2007. The committee also congratulates ‘The Brothers’ for another, as always, brilliantly run event, albeit one that now anyone can win if they are good enough! Is the bro-cycle really broken? Only 2008 will tell. See you there (if you are lucky enough to get an invitation that is).

Results: Melbourne Cup Cup 2007

MCC - On Callaway Handicap	9 holes	9 holes	Total Score	Callaway Handicap	Net score	Prizes
Brendan	40	41	81	8	73	1^st & NTP
Steve S	46	44	90	16	74	2^nd
Bryan C	49	51	100	24	76	Best Interstate Player
Fang	48	55	103	26	77
Tom	58	48	106	29	77
Emile	58	52	110	32	78
Tim	53	54	107	24	78
Steph	49	52	101	22	79	Longest Drive
Pete S	51	50	101	22	79
Ashley	58	59	117	36	81
Harry V	62	49	111	29	82
Fritz	59	57	116	34	82