East Coast Team Thread

[SavvySwede]

My name is Vincent Dugan, 27 years old, and I work on the grounds of an old private club down by the jersey shore. Started playing golf when I was 15 years old. Both my father and grandfather played but my grandfather had passed and my father had given up the game well before I expressed any interest. My first set of clubs were my grandfather's, some old big bertha iron knockoffs with graphite shafts and one inch over standard length. No doubt built by my grandfather to combat the loss of distance with age, the extra length likely influencing the development of the shallow plane my swing exhibits to this day.

Played competitively in high school and junior college with my career highlight being a win at the county championship my senior year of high school. Put the game on hold for a while after transferring to a four year school to focus on my studies, then decided to get serious about it again about two and a half years ago. My style of play would have to be characterized as aggressive. I end up making a few more birdies and bogeys than my scores would normally dictate, though through LSW and some maturity I have been learning to shy away from some pins.

I'm still a bit of a wandering soul at this stage in my life. Haven't found the right women or work that I can really be passionate about so the future is a real mystery. My father worked just about every job you could think of before he found success so I'm not too worried just yet. In the mean time I manage to have a lot of fun and keep distracted with my various hobbies. Always looking forward to the next challenge.

I'm also an animal lover.

[poser]

Sorry I haven't logged in here forever just noticed this was going on.  I was out most of the year with a torn ECU tendon in my wrist.  Started playing again few months ago.  I'm in if there is still spots available sounds like a blast.

[cipher]

Sorry I haven't logged in here forever just noticed this was going on.  I was out most of the year with a torn ECU tendon in my wrist.  Started playing again few months ago.  I'm in if there is still spots available sounds like a blast.

Sorry to hear that, glad you are getting through it.  I have an ECU tendon injury going on right now as well.  Stay active on the site here and it would be great to have you on the team

[poser]

I'll tell you it sucks bad.  It took longer to recover from that than back surgery.  Even now it's not 100%.  Hope you didn't tear it bad cause you could be out for 6-9 months.  Sent you a PM back.

[fr0sty]

My name is Mark Frost. I am 34, live in West Chicago, IL, went to Wheaton College, got a BS Computer Science, and currently work as a computer programmer. I've been married for 7 years and have two boys (4 and 2). I joined this forum about 5 years ago and can generally be found hanging out in the rules forum.

I started playing golf when I was about seven (can't say for sure) My father picked up the game from his father and I did the same. I played for my HS golf team all 4 years and played as high as #2 on the varsity squad. I didn't play nearly as much during college and started to get serious again when I was out of school and started working. I've been largely self taught though I have taken some lessons here and there most recently over this past winter. I'm hoping that this is the year that I get my handicap out of the 6-9 range where it has been hanging around lately and down below 5.

The season is just starting and my swing is in transition (from a weak, high fade to a lower more powerful draw courtesy of the lessons I took over the winter) so I'm not having tons of early season success. The new full swing mechanics effect my pitch shots as well so all I have left from last year is chipping and putting which have been hit or miss (generally hit, but I have my, uh, moments...).

Here's a recent photo:

[iacas]

Here's a recent photo:

So what you're saying is… Tiger Woods was NOT full of shit with how his full swing affects his short game, eh? :)

That's the face of a stone cold killer right there. Your smile does not fool me.

Thanks for posting. :)

[cedrictheo]

My name is Cedric Theofanous, I'm 28 years old. I went to the University of Illinois and now work in Real Estate. We buy distressed homes, fix them up, and then rent them out. I live in the city of Chicago and work in the burbs. I started playing golf with my dad when I was 8 or so. From 8 until 24 I played an average of 5 to 10 times a year and would shoot somewhere in the 90's. I never got any lessons... Then I went on a golf trip to Palm Springs, stayed at PGA west, and got my ass kicked by some old Greek men. This trip was the turning point in my golf game as 2 things happened, I fell in love with the game, and i got very motivated to never let an old Greek man beat me at golf again. So I've spent the past 4 years obsessed with the game. I've been to 5 golf schools, read more than 30 golf books, studied instructional DVDs, and have done 2 instructor training courses. I practice an average of 2 hours a day. And I can proudly say I don't lose to old Greek men anymore...

[DaveP043]

My name is Dave Panich. If I get selected, it looks like I may be the old man in the group, 59 years old. I live just west of Washington DC, in Reston, Virginia, and I'm a member at Stoneleigh Golf Club in Round Hill, VA. In order to earn the money I need to play golf, I work as an engineer for a small construction company. I've been married for 30 years now, and have no children.

I started playing golf with my Dad when I was 13 or 14 years old, and have continued pretty steadily ever since. For a long time, it was always pretty informal, just golf with friends or relatives, but once I joined st Stoneleigh I've enjoyed playing more competitive golf. I play every club tournament I can. I've played on our interclub handicap team for 22 years now, including playing in 4 championship matches (we won 2), and been captain for the last 5 years.

My golf game has been pretty consistent over the last few years. I generally drive the ball straight, even if I'm not particularly long. I think an average carry of 235 to 240 isn't too bad for an old man like me. My irons get better as they get shorter, my short game is competent, and my putting is generally OK. Last summer, my handicap reached its historic low, an index of 3.8. Because I play a lot of “serious” golf, I find that I perform pretty well under pressure a lot of the time.

Last thing, I've often been the planner for golf trips. For 12 or 13 years, I was co-planner for Myrtle Beach trips. In 2011 and 2012, I led groups of 8 to Scotland for golf. I understand what a PITA coordinating all the factors and people can be, and I appreciate the effort that Erik and Mike have to put in to make this event work. I'm honored at even being considered for a spot on the East Coast team.

[jbishop15]

I did not realize that we were doing pictures and bios!

My name is Hunter Bishop. If DavePO43 is the oldest man in the group, then I am probably the youngest. I'm 23, and I graduated college a little over a month ago with a BA in English – Creative Writing. Currently, I work as a freelance writer for all manner of publications, though I would say I specialize in sports and television coverage.

I've been playing golf since I was about 6, and I started to take it seriously about five years ago. When I transferred from Augusta State University to Georgia State University, one of the things I decided to do was try out for the golf team. I wasn't able to make the team (it turns out that competition makes you nervous; who knew?), but I kept up with the game. I've been coached by Frank Gasaway since Fall 2013, though infrequently the last year and a half as I tried to finish up my degree.

My strength is distance off the tee. I've always been a long ball hitter; I hit my driver on average about 305, and when everything is bad, my distance really keeps me in things. My short game has also become a strength, which is a relief on those days when things are going bad.

TheSandTrap is one of my favorite sites on the internet, and it has been an honor just to be in consideration.

[iacas]

@mvmac and I will announce the first four members of each team later tonight, one at a time.

We will do it in the official thread: http://thesandtrap.com/t/80658/the-2015-newport-cup/ . Stay tuned!

[JetFan1983]

As a finalist for one of the last two spots on the East time, I should introduce myself. My name's Constantine Papanicolaou, and I'm a 32 year old online poker player from New Jersey who moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2012 so I could play golf year around. I haven't played any online poker in a few years though, so now I'm just bouncing around local card rooms around South Florida, which is a serious grind these days, but I gotta do it or else I'll have to get a real job one day.

I started playing golf in the summer of 2008, and very quickly discovered this website, so I guess you could say I've been here since my beginning. My official GHIN index right now is only a 9.8, but over my last seven rounds, I've been playing to an 8.7 so I'm trending in the right direction. I'm playing mostly pull-cuts these days, and here are two DTL swings I made at the range yesterday:

I have to admit, as much as I'd enjoy going, I am a bit nervous as to how I'll perform. My handicap is real, but I've never played a tournament round before. I've played in plenty of groups, and I've played for petty cash here and there, but I've never been counted on by others to do well. If there was a reason to pass me over, it'd be that one.

All that said, I have played two rounds of golf with @iacas before, so he has an idea of what he's getting if he picks me. Plus, I plan on making a trip to Erie with my dad in August for a clinic.

I know we have about two weeks until final selections are made, so I'll keep my swing thread as updated as possible between now and then.

To be 100% honest here, I'm okay with being passed over for the 2015 Newport Cup and then being more seriously considered for the 2016 tournament. That said, my schedule is certainly mine to make as I chose, so I can more than make the event and fly out there.

Here's a semi-serious picture I took of myself recently.

[cipher]

I just wanted to stop by and wish you East Coast guys luck(not that you'll need it) and I hope you all have a great time.  I apologize that I could not make it. Congrats to everyone who made the team.  I look forward to getting healthy for the next one and meeting a lot of you guys the next time around.