It started off as it usually did with Steve really late and having to run to try to catch up with the field that had started ten minutes earlier. Nathan and Alan, designers of the course got off to a fast start. Scott and Mike weren't far behind. Brandon, Ben, Kristy, and Steve were stuck on the slanty porch of Nathan's.
The second shot lead to one of the funniest moments of the year. Kristy now in fifth place decided as opposed to catching the runaway leaders Nathan and Scott, decided to hit last place Brandon into the street. Brandon did his trademark complaining so much that he threw down his mallet and snapped it in half. Brandon waited out his penalty while his Dad fixed his mallet.
Meanwhile, Nathan and Scott cruised all the way to the fifth hole without problems. Alan and Mike got stuck on a nasty tire maze in Nathan's side yard. Brandon and Steve found a more creative way to go around but Nathan and Alan were kind enough to board them off, pushing them farther behind.
For some reason, a little shot in some garden box stopped Nathan and Scott dead. They both wasted twelve turns on it. This allowed Alan to run to a huge lead. Nathan was able to recover to run into solo second and Mike in third. Scott got increasingly mad and fell behind the pack and started a blood feud with Ben yet again.
Alan, who had been a bad aim in his early career decided to "Aim, stupid!", and became cautious as he neared the end stick next to the street. This allowed Nathan to quickly gain ground but fell just short as Alan hit the end stick a turn ahead of Nathan, giving Alan his first ever win. Nathan took second again starting a strange trend for him.
Mike got stuck going up a slope into Nathan's front yard garden boxes, this allowed the fast surging, Steve "Third Place Man" Unfred, to jump into what looked like another good finish. Mike had recovered but was still a few shots behind Steve. This is were one of the most memorable moments of the season occurred.
Kristy was stuck in a fight for seventh with Ben and only a little ways behind Scott and Brandon. Since she was getting peeved by Steve's (and the league's) trademark whining she had enough. As Steve was coming for another solid finish, Kristy went out of her way to hit Steve's ball and knock him far down the sidewalk into the street. This shocked all but allowed Mike to steal Steve's third.
Steve composed himself and had quite a fight with "Living Legend" Scott Balthrop for fourth place. Scott constantly knocked Steve in the street but once he got right next to the end stick. Steve hit Scott's ball and pushed past him for fourth. The Living Legend took another fifth place. Brandon rushed to catch them but had to settle for a second consecutive sixth place.
Ben and Kristy fought for seventh place because neither wanted the last place prize of a dented can of pork and beans. That honor went to Kristy as she took last.
Alan won his first ever event and got the honor of holding the Magic 8-Ball for a year. We were happy to have another winner of tour. Little did we know this was the start of a trend as we all showed up to the Thursday night event, The Spam Invitational.
The event started late at night and there was little question who the winner was going to be. Alan was so far ahead of the pack that he beat the coming darkness for his second straight victory. Nathan looked to have another second wrapped up as he had a comfortable lead out a pack consisting of Brandon and Steve, with Mike and Kristy only a turn behind. Ben was well behind and last, a few holes behind the others.
But as expected darkness played a factor. Despite the fact he was using the yellow ball, Nathan had difficulty seeing the ball as he approached the end stick next to the cherry tree. Despite other players trying to help him by holding a flashlight near the end stick, the anti-technology Nathan refused such help and fumbled around in the dark missing multiple attempts at the end stick. He even missed a shot with six inches of the end stick. This created an opening for the others.
Brandon and Steve were cautiously going around backwards into Canales and with Nathan struggling, they could still take second and possibly become Spam King. (Note: Spam King is the trophy given to the player who does the best overall in the three Spam events.) But that was ended for Brandon when meany-head Kristy knocked him out of position and far behind her, Steve, and Mike. Ben was quickly coming through the final shots. Leading to an interesting finish.
Nathan had got himself in position to hit the end stick but was nice enough to allow Mike to hit him out of the way. Mike then took second place and became Spam King of the Year. Kristy was right behind him and took third place. This was the first time in league history a female player had earned points. While Brandon had positioned himself next to the end stick to take a disappointing fourth, Ben came where to fly to hit the end stick and steal fourth. Then Nathan finally finished to take a rather bad fifth place. Then Steve flew a chip shot from ten feet to hit the end stick. Brandon dropped from a decent fourth to a bad last place finish.
The season was down to the final event, The Ironman Croquet Tournament of Champions. This was a three round major at three different courses and only tournament winners and one wildcard could come. The wildcard Nathan had to withdraw and only tournament winners: Ben, Brandon, Alan, Jon, Mike, and Steve attended the long event.
The event started in grand fashion at the Cough Course. Mike and Alan jumped to big leads all the way to the end stick. Jon, Steve, and Brandon were right behind. Ben seemed destined to another last.
Mike was able to win home court advantage and win the round. Alan continued to struggle reaching the end stick when a fast charging Steve pasted Alan by taking second. A upset Alan took third place. Brandon was lined up for fourth but Jon shot over his ball to take fourth place. Brandon took a major killing fifth and Ben eventually got last.
The field drove to get some cheap pizzas at Little Caesar's and ate while Steve was suppose to set up the course. Of course, Steve didn't and we wasted an hour as we yelled at Steve to finish the course.
Once play got started, Ben jumped to an early lead with Alan, Steve, and Mike not far behind. Sith's Brandon and Jon were confused why they were stuck on the first hole. It remained that way until the Duck Tape Ramp Shot.
Ben started hitting some bad shots and wasted twelve turns there allowing all the other players to pass. But like the last round it was a race between Mike, Steve, and Alan. Jon was gaining fast with Brandon and Ben struggling.
Mike fell into the street pushing him out of contention for the round. Steve hit the ball right next to the end stick. Alan desperate to make sure Steve wouldn't win, flew his ball a few inches over the end stick. Steve took first for the second round, Alan recovered for second, and Mike raced in Jon for third. So Jon, Brandon, and Ben took fourth, fifth, and last for the second straight round.
So while the major field was traveling to the final round of the season at the Lasher Course. The points were added up. Mike and Steve shared the lead, with Alan a point behind, and Jon with a very slim chance to win. Brandon and Ben would have to settle for spoilers.
Jon, eager to test that slim chance, did what he had to do, win the final round by a lopsided margin. Alan and Mike were fighting down the stretch for the major. Brandon and Ben fighting for fourth, and a harassed Steve slumping in last.
Alan got next to the end stick but Mike had a chance to hit the end stick first and win the major outright. He missed by a few inches and it allowed Alan to take second with Mike in third. There was a tie for first.
Ben turned in a decent round taking fourth. Brandon trying to prevent Steve from tying Jon for third, fell into the street and Steve took fifth for the round. Brandon had to settle for last in the round and a tie for last in the major. But the major wasn't over as we had two playoffs on the famous deck shot to end the year.
In a rematch of the third place playoff at The Orange Shirt Classic, Jon and Steve fought for third at another major. This time there was no question as Steve missed his attempt to go through the hole while Jon hit three solid shots and went to claim third. A sort of revenge for the last playoff.
But in the greatest playoff ever and one for a major, Mike and Alan had a legendary duel on the deck. In a ten minute playoff, it was a seesaw affair. When Mike went through the wicket Alan answered. When Alan missed chances to go through the wicket, so did Mike. But Alan nailed a long straight shot, giving him his third straight event and first ever major. Mike had to settle for another runner-up finish at a major.
So the year was over. There was a awards party a few weeks later where awards were given to all. Mike received his Spam King of the Year trophy and Brandon took home Player of the Year honors. So the first season was over. What would the second bring?