2003 - May the Gorse Be With You

Day 1

Inspired by another Beck video masterpiece and a record setting Calcutta pool, the field arrived at Shanghai West ready to rumble in the excellent fall golf conditions.  The result was the tightest result in Hairy Crab history with a 4-way tie for first and the entire field lying within six strokes of the lead.

Watkins/Looram and Moose/Messner shared the lead at 69 with surprising upstarts Wentling/O'Connell and Farmer/Mulligan.

Peter Grant became the first Clam champion in Crab history winning the inaugural Clam Stableford by 7 from massive Steve Parker.  Unfortunately, Grant's tournament would be cut short later that evening in a Long Bar dancing incident with Loco and Looram.

The field retired to Mexico Lindo's to fuel the fires for Saturday's round.

Day 2

Traditonally the toughest day to the Crab, Saturday's alternate shot at Qi Zhong was no exception.   Dodds/Varconie faded early with a front nine net 45, only to be tied at 157 by Airdrie/Lomason who holed a 40 footer to save an 11 on #17.   Other casualties included Jared/Blackwood, and first day leaders Watkins/Looram and Wentling/O'Connell.

At the front of the pack, Moose/Messner took control with an outstanding 68 for 137.  The inlaw/outlaw team of Karlsson/Wellins shot a dazzling 69 tying Farmer/Mulligan for second at 140.  The rest of the field maintained contact and stayed in the hunt for the big Crab payoff.

In Clam action, Mike Plaspohl bested a wobbly field by 10 while his playing partners set records for beer consumed down the stretch.

The evening was remarkably injury-free despite mass quantities of sushi and saki at Xin Le Lu Sushi.

Day 3

Excellent fall weather greeted the players for the third and final round at Tianma.  Jared/Blackwood charged from the back to record the best modified Stableford of the day at -22.  This earned them a tie for 6th in the money with Companion/Hamilton, Cornelius/Newcomb and Marsh/Duffy.  As darkness fell, no serious challenge had arisen to the championship team of Moose/Messner.  Beck/Falconer and McCann/Tatelbaum shared joint 2nd while the surprising Farmer/Mulligan shared 4th with Burkett/Ryan.

At the back of the pack, Airdrie/Lomason nailed a forty footer for the second straight day.  This time it was for a net eagle that sealed the fate of Dodds/Varconie for DFL.

Jim Ledage set a Clam record total of 8 points to claim Sunday honors over double bridesmaid Craig Daniel.

The field retired to the hospitality of Tianma's dining room to celebrate the victors and divide the spoils.