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Post by evilgrin72 on May 23, 2020 7:40:07 GMT -5
I don't know if I'm going to be online later to write up my last assignment or not. There are a lot of moving parts that are going to dictate my day, but I'll give it my best. It may just depend on when the match completes. If I'm not, I just want to take a moment to extend my most sincere thanks to honeybadger64 for running this. It's no small task and all this fun wouldn't be possible without your efforts, Greg. I want you to know how much I appreciate all you do. I also want to extend thanks again to SkyBlueBen who was tireless in running Dirtbags for the last few seasons before putting it in Greg's capable hands. Ben, you're a great guy, a terrific captain, and one hell of a commissioner. To that end, having Greg, Ben, and @sirwade59 as teammates this past season was a truly great experience. Wade, you're an excellent teammate and an absolute wizard at dropping "that's what she said" into game commentary. You'll be missed and I really hope you come back some day soon. Finally, to my USA teammates - it's not over yet, bring it home! To the ROW side, please don't catch us on day 4. I don't know if I can handle another excruciating loss in this event. And Celtic Wolf - allow me to say publicly that you fought valiantly in round 3 singles against a round that saw me have a lot of luck. You played well and likely deserved a better result. I'm genuinely sorry for having pissed you off with any of my pre or post-match commentary. I will proudly display the Twitch banner you made for me forever, and I wouldn't be in Dirtbags at all if not for your World Cup event. I owe you a debt of gratitude and the last thing in the world I would ever want to do is annoy you, so for that, I hope you accept my apology.
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Post by SkyBlueBen on May 23, 2020 7:52:50 GMT -5
I don't know if I'm going to be online later to write up my last assignment or not. There are a lot of moving parts that are going to dictate my day, but I'll give it my best. It may just depend on when the match completes. If I'm not, I just want to take a moment to extend my most sincere thanks to honeybadger64 for running this. It's no small task and all this fun wouldn't be possible without your efforts, Greg. I want you to know how much I appreciate all you do. I also want to extend thanks again to SkyBlueBen who was tireless in running Dirtbags for the last few seasons before putting it in Greg's capable hands. Ben, you're a great guy, a terrific captain, and one hell of a commissioner. To that end, having Greg, Ben, and @sirwade59 as teammates this past season was a truly great experience. Wade, you're an excellent teammate and an absolute wizard at dropping "that's what she said" into game commentary. You'll be missed and I really hope you come back some day soon. Finally, to my USA teammates - it's not over yet, bring it home! To the ROW side, please don't catch us on day 4. I don't know if I can handle another excruciating loss in this event. And Celtic Wolf - allow me to say publicly that you fought valiantly in round 3 singles against a round that saw me have a lot of luck. You played well and likely deserved a better result. I'm genuinely sorry for having pissed you off with any of my pre or post-match commentary. I will proudly display the Twitch banner you made for me forever, and I wouldn't be in Dirtbags at all if not for your World Cup event. I owe you a debt of gratitude and the last thing in the world I would ever want to do is annoy you, so for that, I hope you accept my apology. It's a shame some of the trash talk got a little too trashy but hey, we're all big boys (and girls Carol and Ken) and have become great mates so I'm sure (hopefully) we'll all go off into the sunset holding imaginary hands. Monty's was the most fun I've ever had in a season off the course and I shall miss the camaraderie but looking forward to a new challenge with a new team and less responsibility!! As for the BBC, I know from first hand experience just how time consuming it is to put this all together and I'd like to add my personal thanks to Greg and the Press Corps for doing such a marvellous job.
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Post by Art Vandelay on May 23, 2020 8:06:12 GMT -5
Andrew you set a very high bar in your round, very well played to go around that course in those conditions and submit a clean card. I feel very lucky to have won. Great writeup Pete, I appreciate the message and the Messenger.
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Post by zorbacles on May 23, 2020 8:28:56 GMT -5
Andrew you set a very high bar in your round, very well played to go around that course in those conditions and submit a clean card. I feel very lucky to have won. Great writeup Pete, I appreciate the message and the Messenger. Thanks Art. Appreciate the kind works
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Post by Ashton Fox on May 23, 2020 9:03:37 GMT -5
I said this in my team thread, on my stream, and will say it now that the scores are in. I hope that no one took any of my banter personally as I was just trying to instigate some trash talk during the competition. If anyone feels I attacked them personally or went too far, know that was NOT my intention and I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I hope that if you feel some kind of way about me, you'll message me and we can air it out and move on. Again, I was talking trash as it relates to the competition and not the person. As I shared on my stream, this was personal for me. I put my round (and failures) on display last go around and I left feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and like a failure. Those feelings stuck with me the rest of that day in real life by just having an icky feeling. I know it's just digital golf but I take pride in sport and so I give it my all. Since then, I had the Masters clubs failure experience and captained my team to a last place finish. Digital golf has not been going well. This was my chance to be vindicated and that was snatched round 1 from me when I put up a great round that wasn't great enough. I felt those same feelings I did after I ended the Twitch last Ryder Cup. So that ignited my passion even more and sparked me to be even more vocal and try to rally my team. So there was a lot of emotion and passion that I had and still have when it comes to this competition and representing the digital country. I'm very prideful and take it very seriously about wanting to win for my team. So again, don't confuse my passion and emotion with ill will. It was not my intent to mad anyone upset and if I did, please reach out to me so we can settle it. This group is the only reason I still play TGCTour rounds and IMO it's the best group around. Cheers to the ROW team. Loved the competition and now I'll get to dissect your scores to see who I'll be hoping to get on Whammy! And Crazy Croc , hell of a round. When I saw the pairing I knew I was in for the fight of my life because you are one of the most skilled and consistent Dirtbags. If you look at the scorecard, that was a hell of a dog fight and I would have loved to have seen that play out live. šŗšøšŗšøšŗšøšŗšøšŗšø
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Post by Art Vandelay on May 23, 2020 9:20:16 GMT -5
Day Three - Match 5 singles match play
This is the singles match all our Fathers and our Fathers Fathers have been waiting for. Two grizzled veterans, friends for eternity except for this moment in time. For Team USA their Captain Bill takes on Les from Team ROW. Both players have tasted victory in this competition, and both have experienced the agony of defeat. Is a halved match in the cards? "Not if I have anything to say about it" growled both golfers simultaneously.
Les, properly bathed in Captain and coke and having his caddie tote a few canisters of his favorite beverage, struck first when his approach on 1 rattled the flagstick and came to rest inches from the cup. Bill, who was late to the grounds thus forcing a shortened warm-up, overcooked his approach and flubbed the ensuing chip. ROW 1 UP.
Les returned the favor on two in eerily similar fashion, missing the green and not able to get up and down. Bill converts his par to square the match.
Les takes a few hole to find his form again, but his putter comes to life on 5, 7 and 9 for birdies to take a commanding 3 UP lead at the turn. Bill has not played poorly, but he must dig deep to make a match of this on the back nine.
Fueled by momentum, Les takes qo with his most lengthy birdie putt of the day. Bill is able to counter thanks to a deftly played wedge to 2 feet on 12.
The two warriors battle on, neither giving ground and barely acknowledging each other (grunts of "thats good" "you're away" and "outta my line you old fool" are low and surly), the match stil 3 UP in favor of ROW when they reach the 15th. 15 was predicted as being perhaps the pivotal hole in deciding wins and losses, and it lived up to the billing here.
Both gentlemen split the fairway off the tee, leaving nearly identical approaches in. Les, away by the narrowest of margins, asks his caddie for his mashie niblick. Les clips the ball with precision know only to those who can properly know what a mashie niblick is and how to use it. The ball lands shot of the green bounces three and half times and comes to rest beneath the pin about ten feet away.
When Bill is ready to play, it's as if ROW Captain Frans summoned up the forces of nature (isn't that one of Aquamans' powers? No? Well it is now, makes for a better read) because suddenly out of the west a quartering head wind gusted up 3 times and pushed Bills' shot into the rough. He made a valiant up and down for par, but he could only stand there and watch as Les calmly drained his birdie putt to win the match for ROW 4 & 3.
Then it was like a switch went off. These two men, embroiled in battle all morning, were once again friends after all. Bill tipped his cap and offered his elbow in congratulations (social distancing is still real, even in pixel golf). The two walked off the course with friendly banter like nearly any other day they have met on the course.
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Post by sandsaver01 on May 23, 2020 9:31:08 GMT -5
This just in. . . . Sandsaver01 completes his round four! By my calculation I lost the match 2 and 1. Sorry team mates, I really actually played OK, and maybe saved a demo mark in CC-B, but that two-putt bogey on #15 as well as missing several putts that were headed for glory and just veered off at the hole means that somebody else will have to carry the weight. Based on statistics the chances of me beating Mike G were slim anyway so I feel OK, unless this is the loss that costs us the cup.
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Post by billybudd0623 on May 23, 2020 9:33:13 GMT -5
Message from Bill Guys I first want to apologize for not being here more this week. It could not be helped. I even missed this morning's action having a computer replaced at my office. I would like to send a few overdue thank you's. Thanks to the ones responsible for giving me the honor of this week's event being named after me. There are many who worked side by side with me in the early years to ensure we survived to get to where we are today. Thanks to Greg honeybadger64 and all the reporters. A great job by all, and a time consuming job. Congrats to Frans fransslabak and the ROW team. A big congrats to the USA team that would have made me proud, win, lose or draw. I asked for 100% effort and you gave 150%. Ernie cappy1 and Ashton Fox Ashton helped me with a great strategy this week. I think Carol inflames47 was the one who lifted Team USA more than anyone. Dirtbag nation once again proves 'we have the most fun on TGCTOURS, and it would not be possible without Ben SkyBlueBen and others. Finally, a sad note to see Wade @sirwade59 leave the Dirtbags.
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Post by sandsaver01 on May 23, 2020 9:40:25 GMT -5
Win or lose, as everybody has said the Billy Budd Cup was a fun experience (even without much Billy Budd LOL). Now that each team has won the cup one time, I am looking forward to the rubber match in a couple months. Have a good Summer and see you for the Dirtbags Nine!
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Post by katana22 on May 23, 2020 9:44:54 GMT -5
This just in. . . . Sandsaver01 completes his round four! By my calculation I lost the match 2 and 1. Sorry team mates, I really actually played OK, and maybe saved a demo mark in CC-B, but that two-putt bogey on #15 as well as missing several putts that were headed for glory and just veered off at the hole means that somebody else will have to carry the weight. Based on statistics the chances of me beating Mike G were slim anyway so I feel OK, unless this is the loss that costs us the cup. Your chances of beating me were as good as mine beating you, your just as good as me if not better any day of week. What a cracker of a match that would have been to watch unfold I'm just happy to get away with a win.
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Post by lessangster on May 23, 2020 10:00:27 GMT -5
Day Three - Match 5 singles match play
This is the singles match all our Fathers and our Fathers Fathers have been waiting for. Two grizzled veterans, friends for eternity except for this moment in time. For Team USA their Captain Bill takes on Les from Team ROW. Both players have tasted victory in this competition, and both have experienced the agony of defeat. Is a halved match in the cards? "Not if I have anything to say about it" growled both golfers simultaneously.
Les, properly bathed in Captain and coke and having his caddie tote a few canisters of his favorite beverage, struck first when his approach on 1 rattled the flagstick and came to rest inches from the cup. Bill, who was late to the grounds thus forcing a shortened warm-up, overcooked his approach and flubbed the ensuing chip. ROW 1 UP.
Les returned the favor on two in eerily similar fashion, missing the green and not able to get up and down. Bill converts his par to square the match.
Les takes a few hole to find his form again, but his putter comes to life on 5, 7 and 9 for birdies to take a commanding 3 UP lead at the turn. Bill has not played poorly, but he must dig deep to make a match of this on the back nine.
Fueled by momentum, Les takes qo with his most lengthy birdie putt of the day. Bill is able to counter thanks to a deftly played wedge to 2 feet on 12.
The two warriors battle on, neither giving ground and barely acknowledging each other (grunts of "thats good" "you're away" and "outta my line you old fool" are low and surly), the match stil 3 UP in favor of ROW when they reach the 15th. 15 was predicted as being perhaps the pivotal hole in deciding wins and losses, and it lived up to the billing here.
Both gentlemen split the fairway off the tee, leaving nearly identical approaches in. Les, away by the narrowest of margins, asks his caddie for his mashie niblick. Les clips the ball with precision know only to those who can properly know what a mashie niblick is and how to use it. The ball lands shot of the green bounces three and half times and comes to rest beneath the pin about ten feet away.
When Bill is ready to play, it's as if ROW Captain Frans summoned up the forces of nature (isn't that one of Aquamans' powers? No? Well it is now, makes for a better read) because suddenly out of the west a quartering head wind gusted up 3 times and pushed Bills' shot into the rough. He made a valiant up and down for par, but he could only stand there and watch as Les calmly drained his birdie putt to win the match for ROW 4 & 3.
Then it was like a switch went off. These two men, embroiled in battle all morning, were once again friends after all. Bill tipped his cap and offered his elbow in congratulations (social distancing is still real, even in pixel golf). The two walked off the course with friendly banter like nearly any other day they have met on the course.
Thanks Art your write ups crack me up š¤£ Iām betting a match between Bill and myself would be like that in real life but with a different result. Bill scores much better than I do now going into old age. We will always be gentleman to each other on or off the course. My caddy had plenty of Captain Morgan in the bag but he ran out of Coke so was topping it up with vodka instead hic slurp. I hope I sober up before next weeks efforts.
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Post by SkyBlueBen on May 23, 2020 10:07:49 GMT -5
Congratulations to the US team. Hungrier and much better. Fully deserved the win. Already looking forward to the return in 10 weeks time. We're hurting after this one but that will only make us stronger. Thanks to the Dutch Maestro Frans fransslabak for leading us into battle. Sorry we weren't up to the job in hand.
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Post by Ashton Fox on May 23, 2020 10:12:39 GMT -5
Here is the replay from the morning's round and the clinching point. While I didn't know the scores, it was high drama.
Minute 15 starts total agony At 19:40, I had chalked up the loss to Marc VN At 20:45, magic begins to happen 23:00 offers a very tense moment 25:00 I stepped up to 17 needing 2 birdies to halve the match At 25:45 was the putt heard around the world. "Do you believe in miracles?" And then there was 18...... And needing a birdie from the deep rough to win the whole thing. 28:00 is the end of the Dirtbags rounds.
I then went on to play 2 promo rounds which is why the episode is so long.
So here it is if you want to see it. I'm not savvy enough to edit it and have Marc's score run alongside the replay but damn, What a match.
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Post by fransslabak on May 23, 2020 10:13:24 GMT -5
Dear all, Even though some matches are still out there, the USA team have now reached that magical 16.5 points mark; victory is theirs. Congratulations to team USA! I would like to personally congratulate captain billybudd0623 and his two vice-captains, cappy1 and Ashton Fox; your tactics were spot on! Your whole team delivered when it mattered. I know you wanted this badly and your play showed it; a well-deserved win and your hands on the very first BillyBudd Cup. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ashton with halving his match with Crazy Croc and bringing in the half point that clinched it. I know you really wanted to have the chance to 'put things right' after the Ryder Cup. You stayed calm when it mattered and delivered on your promise. I admire that and applaud you for that. Simultaneously, I also want to thank you for your message explaining your emotions and apologising to those who, like me, thought you crossed the line a little bit in the build up to that final match. Thank you for that, Ashton! I also want to thank all players in the ROW team; you are great players, great competitors and, most importantly, simply a great bunch of people. It was my honour to captain you. Special thanks to SkyBlueBen and Loftyando, my vice-captains; two fine gentlemen who made my job easy. Greg, honeybadger64, thank you for delivering!! Then again, you always deliver... It was a great match, Dirtbags!!! Best wishes, Frans
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Post by Ashton Fox on May 23, 2020 10:20:29 GMT -5
Thank you for being honest, fransslabak about my behavior. The next time around will be very different now that I got rid of my demons and that chip off my shoulder. I'm still going to engage in friendly banter and try to get the ROW worked up but I realize I need to tone it down because hurting feelings isn't worth the price of talking some trash in digital golf. So again, I apologize and hope we can move on in a positive and cohesive manner. But I'm always going to be coming after you, Frans. That's what happens when you won the season and the Battle of the Captains. You are setting the bar for brilliance in your play and I'm going to work like hell to get my name in that competition and give you a run for your money. Cheers š»
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