The Broadfoot Open

Team	Players	Score	TGS Cup Points
Pine Meadow	Tommy Berry, Scott Soles, Dann Sonne, Chris Lindauer	67	18
Up in Smoke	Nick Mann, Jim Rader, Lance Meyerink, Dave Charbonneau	69	11
Birdie then Bogey	Jeff Albright, Bryan Norris, Tal Wold, Greg Younger	69	11
Broadfoot	Charlie Broadfoot, Dave Younger, Brendan McMullen, Dan Siprian	70	5
Ham and Eggs	Jason Wold, Bob Albright, Kevin Harris, Tim Tyvand	71	1

Ridgefield, WA -- It was an atypical spring day in the Northwest; one that called for temperatures in the mid-40s and a decent chance of snow. Despite the foreboding weather, twenty players drove north on I-5 to participate in the inaugural Tailgate State Cup event of 2008.

Lead by tour mainstay Tommy Berry, "Pine Meadow" was off first and jumped to an early lead with five birdies on the first nine holes. As if it were a metaphor for the players' hangovers, the clouds gradually lifted and the sun started to peek through as the teams began piling up birdies to compete with Berry's handpicked team of competitors.

Despite early bogeys, "Birdie then Bogey" and "Ham and Eggs" began their chase of Berry's group of renegades and each made the turn at two strokes under par. "Broadfoot" -- no doubt aided greatly by the Bloody Marys served at the clubhouse bar -- avoided early trouble and completed the first nine holes at three strokes under par. "Up in Smoke" completed the front nine in 36 strokes and appeared to be disinterested in the day's event and more concerned with what the evening might hold in store for them.

Rain, then sleet began pelting the players on the back nine holes and the game was on. The boys of "Pine Meadow" (and parts unknown) continued their assault on the leader board with two more birdies to get to an astounding seven shots under par. The weather and general distaste for cold beer on a forty-degree day took their toll and the bogeys began occurring with an alarming frequency for the other teams, now seemingly out of contention for the illustrious title of "Broadfoot Open Champion".

With their chances "Up in Smoke" after their dispiriting performance on the first half of the day, Nick Mann cajoled his team of aging misfits to the only bogey-free back nine of the day and finished with a respectable score of 69.

"Birdie then Bogey" gave away any chance they had of winning with a bogey at the treacherous fourteenth hole. Playing only 350 yards, the hole would normally be a birdie opportunity but the wind was howling back towards the tee and the team knew their day was over. Beer was their only solace when the fifth stroke mercifully fell into the hole and they had to reflect on the difficult times they still had to face.

Alcohol's diabolical nature revealed itself yet again in the play of "Broadfoot", the tournament's host and organizer. Their attempt to harness the elixir's power and ride it to victory backfired on the final nine holes and a single bogey left them with a pedestrian score of 70. A come from behind victory would have been an appropriate way to celebrate team member Dave Younger's 23rd birthday but it wasn't meant to be.

"Ham and Eggs" lived up to their billing with four bogeys to go with three birdies on the final nine holes and finished in last place at a single stroke under par. Kevin Harris summed up his team's day by remarking, "Errgh agaaa mak jail! Aaaaht hotttt, yalamma funnt guuuuuhd!"

The Tailgate State tour moves on next month to the "AAA Championship" where Tommy Berry attempts to go back-to-back in 2008 by winning his own tournament. Jason Wold and Jason Quick are the defending champions. Wold is expected to play but Quick's whereabouts are currently unknown.