First Cap Match - 2003
                          Dave Osborne

The 2003 Cap Match was contested the weekend of 08/03 at one of the 2003
RSG-Pittsburgh courses, Conley's. As a brief mention of history, the
last 4 matches have gone to Metzler-Osborne. The entire 2002 season was
dominated by this team. A very special thanks to Senator Cooper for
making the longest trek to make the match a reality. The Cap Match is
like the Ryder Cup, if there's a tie, it is retained. The match is a 2
person team, best ball, no strokes - match play. Let's get to the 2003
match.

The match didn't really begin until the back side so a brief summary of
the front is Metz-Oz jumped out to a quick 2 up lead after two, but by
the time the front was completed, Geo-Coo had evened the match. Metz
had a great up-and-down from the front of number two for the par. The
front was highlighted by many one-putts for "a save" and a 304
yard-drive, into the wind, by Geo. The Senator made a brilliant
up-and-down for par on the downhill par 5, 7th (and at #8!) and Geo
capped off the all-square match at #9 with a great par after being left
into the trees off the tee of the uphill hole. Geo also had a good par
at #4 for the win.

#10 The back 9 began a little auspiciously as a huge half was made by
Geo after finding the trees on the right with his tee shot. Both Metz
and Geo made 5 from short approach, front-right for the half.

#11 is the 90 degree dog-leg left and all found the fairway. A splendid
approach by Geo was to 7 feet and the remaining shots were long-right,
long-fringe-right and on, and on but far right. Coops being away, in a
display of "strategery", had Geo putt first. It was to no avail as
Super calmly putted to tap-in range from his 50ft. back-right-fringe
lie. All even.

#12 found Super on in three, Metz out, Geo-Coo short in 3. They both
had short-sided a front hole placement and a tricky, rough-induced,
down-hill chip lie ahead. Both left the chips short and Metz-Oz are 1
up. The grinding had begun.

#13 This hole had a major miscue so let's cut to the chase. Super and
Geo lying 3, Metz and Coops lying 4. Metz-Oz DID NOT REALIZE Coops was
lying 4, they had him lying 3. Geo 2 putted for 5 and Coops 1 putted
for what in reality was a 5 but Super had him for a 4. Super stepped up
and blew it by the hole 6 feet. He stepped over and declared, "It
doesn't matter" and before said opponents could inform him that the putt
now was for a half, picked up his ball. A half-hole was turned into a
lost whole. The match is all even at this point.

#14 Super was beside himself making a HUGE mental error standing on the
back-edge of #14 tee when Metz approached and told him not to worry
about that hole - don't let it effect your play. Super responded "I'll
get it back". The long 440 yard par four found Super and Geo in the
front-right bunker in 2, Metz on in three and Coops on in 4. Metz 2
putts for a 5. It was brilliant "strategery" as Metz played his drive
from the left-rough, laid-up (well back) and then stuck the 8 iron to
within 8 feet. This was huge as it secured the hole and nixed the
miscue on the previous hole and Metz-Oz are 1 up with 4 to play.

#15 is where the "head-hunting" took place at a previous round and the
hole was halved. 1 up with 3 to play.

#16 found all of our contestants on in regulation but Coops really came
through - BIG! He drains an 18 footer for birdie! He does a little
happy-dance, hugs his playing partner and gets "jiggy-with-it" on the
16th green! The Senator gave kudos to his partner for "the read"! It
was an emotional moment and now the match is all square with 2 to play.
Needless to say, the match was in the balance.

#17 found Metz having an ugly time finding the trees to the right and
getting too close to the trees on the left on the approach - it was bad
caddy advice on the lay-up. Geo-Coo are in the fairway making the
approach - both come up short. If Coops had the putt of the day back on
#16, Super had the shot of the day at 17. This is where Super backed-up
his "I'll get it back" statement. He was deepish in the right-rough, 191
yards away, downhill lie, water in front. He pulls the Adams 5-metal
and spanks a low-boring shot. He's yelling at it to "get-up" and the
ball bounces 25 yards short, takes a gigantic hop forward and on the
green. The best Geo-Coo could do was five as Super 2 putted for four
and the 2003 Cap Match was in the books.

The Cap has now been retained for an unprecedented 5 straight matches
by the Metz-Oz team! See you in 2 weeks in OHIO!

Dave Osborne