The Sandbagger

The British Open has the Claret Jug. Augusta National’s annual Masters tournament has the Green Jacket. The PGA Championship has the Wanamaker Trophy. The US Open has the US Open Trophy (a blown revenue opportunity, surely).

The Sandbagger Championship has a prize as esteemed as those of the majors: The Pewter Pint.  The bragging rights are of inestimable value (Priceless, MasterCard might say), making the need for any cash prize absolutely pointless.

So, now that we’re in the 27th year of pursuing this elusive trophy, it’s time for a look back. Just where (and why) did this fine tradition start?

The first Sandbagger tournament was held in 1996, in Malone, NY. The tournament began as a way to maintain a connection to high school friends – in the first year, we had 9 participants: Brian Arbique, Bruce Blackie, Rick Cunliffe, Mike Gates, Derrick Hockley, Brent Mooney, Steve McMahon, Graham Smith and yours truly. We set targets, largely without great dispute: as a result, Brent Mooney, as talented a golfer as he is an accountant, was able to walk away with the inaugural trophy. (Since then, the Friday night Star Chamber session has emerged as a fun, although stressful, aspect of our annual weekend getaway.)

Over the ensuing years we have seen many more Nepean High School alumni join the tour, including: Doug Anderson, Andy del Castillo, Andy Greene (RIP), Greg Hodgins, Rick Hogeveen, Brian Joe, Guy Laframboise, Jeff Mains, Jack Pantalone and Andrew Posthumus.

We have also benefited from adding a number of people who weren’t fortunate enough to have attended NHS. These people have made the group even more fun, interesting and competitive. As an example, Ricky Cunliffe’s Hinton Avenue mafia connections brought us Greg Jarvis and Geoff Oliver, two fine golfers who have each successfully walked away with the trophy. Jack Pantalone’s university pal Brian Boychuk cracked wise all the way to capturing the cup in his rookie year, 2011, at a special edition of the Sandbagger when we visited Arizona to mark the 50th birthdays of so many of us. Bruce Murdock, Michel Ranger, Lou Riccoboni and Blake Johnston have heard so many high school stories, they can now pass themselves off as alumni.

And, make no mistake, these newcomers have proven to be solid competitors: Bruce Murdock has worn the bridesmaid dress so often he is now a confirmed cross-dresser. Michel “Shiv” Ranger (2014 Sandbagger Champion) has become so expert at his Star Chamber interventions that he should market himself as a consultant to those who are looking to protect their interests on Friday night. (With Michel’s advice, Brian Bonnar, 2001 Champion, would likely be a repeat champion.) When he first found himself in contention some years ago, Lou Riccoboni generously deemed himself unworthy — as too much of an ‘outsider’ — to win the Pewter Mug.  Well, anyway, that’s the explanation he gave for faltering in the closing holes. The shooting star (he was only with us briefly) Michael Holmes showed no such compunction, however, proving himself to be a true Sandbagger, shooting an alleged personal best (by 20 strokes, and also 20 under his target) in his first and only Sandbagger appearance.  Holmes’ name lives on in infamy, etched forever on our prize as a permanent reminder to us all to never again be so kind to (or naive about) any rookies in our midst.

Through the years, we have taken our competition to Malone, Lake Placid, Mont Tremblant, Kingston (the fabulous Millhaven Inn), Haliburton, Belleville, the Thousand Islands (Smuggler’s Glen), Perth/Smiths Falls (Bass Lake and Canada Club) and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Through the years, the following worthy (for the most part) fellows have hoisted The Pewter Pint as Sandbagger champions: