C&S 2003

The C&S Invitational was golf al a carte once again when 3 courses north of Houston were selected. Walden on Lake Conroe, a small country club sporting waterside holes, proved to be a big hit with the players. For the 1st time, all 12 participants stayed at the same address; a lake house with a hot tub and jet skis. The event date was pushed back to increase the chance for warmer weather and this proved successful with temperatures in the 70’s and the only precipitation a slight shower during the 1st couple of holes of the practice round.

The Soda team consisting of Gieselmann, Oliger, Olson, Hone, Ogden, and Tom Kniola took the Cup 13.5 to 10.5 in a closer contest than the score indicates. The score was tied 6 to 6 after Friday and 9 to 9 after the Saturday morning rounds. Team “Steady Eddy” with laser beams Olson, Granger, and Dave Nicholson plus the newly educated fade of Gieselmann made off with the Scramble Championship in the most competitive event in recent years. The champs won in a sudden death playoff after there was a 3 way tie on the 14th tee and the 2nd place team being one up on the other 2 teams after the 17th hole. The eventual winners birdied the par 3 18th hole to force the playoff. Gieselmann repeated as the GOTY.

For the 1st time in a while, college basketball was not the typical extra-curricular activity. Watching the Shell Houston Open and NBA playoffs dominated the tube. Ogden was victorious in the “Partner with a Pro” wager when he selected Fred Couples, that week’s PGA winner. Water activities (pool, hot tub, jet skis and boat) took up much of the free time. Traveling to Papa’s Ice House was possible by boat; day or night. The Ice House was not on Tom Kniola’s schedule Friday night as he made the trip to downtown Houston to catch a performance by Yanni.