With the leaves in full bloom, the sun peaking through the clouds and the temperature at 70oF, could there be a finer November day in central Jersey for golf? The Koreans, still bitter from their defeat 2 weeks ago, came jumping out of the gates. A par, bogey, par start gave them a 2 up lead after 3. "Deja vuuu!" cried Richie. But this day would be nothing like 2 weeks ago. Bogeys never won a hole, and the lead never grew larger than 2. Every shot, every putt was a grind. (Well, at least for Bry and Tae)
Richie "squirt gun" Tsai couldn’t find the fairway most of the day and wasn’t a factor. Jamin "Wild Bill" Cho also couldn’t find the short grass and was relegated to spectator status. That’s right folks, what started out as a fourball event would turn out to be the Bry and Tae show, as Richie and Jam pulled a disappearing act that Houdini would be proud of.
At the 6th hole, Bry "it’s not a gimme" Leong, turned on the afterburners. He was never conceded a short one outside of 3 inches. But he made them all as he parred 6 of the next 10 holes and single-handedly got China back in the ball game. At 17, it was all square with 2 to go. China (or should I say Bry) had momentum and the tie-breaker; things did indeed look bleak for Korea (Tae).
On the 17th green, Tae had 30 ft and 2 putts to win the hole, but he only hit the first one 15ft. The air must have been thick, because everyone was choking. He then hit his next putt 7 ft past. All of a sudden, what looked like a win now seemed like a loss. Miss this putt and it’s all over; China wins. But Tae got up there, and calmly, coolly knocked it center cut for the half and extended the match. So off they went to 18. On 18, Tae boldly striped driver down the fairway. Then he hit his approach to 20 ft. He hit the first putt 5 ft passed and again, he left himself some work. But this was no ordinary 5 footer. This 5 footer was for all the marbles. Miss it and China wins. Make it and Korea wins. The fact that I’m writing the synopsis instead of Richie tells you all you need to know. "Clung-te-te" That’s the sound of his Strata hitting the bottom of the cup. Until further notice, Tae shall be referred to as the "Iceman"
MVP: Tae "take it to the bank" Kyung