2012 Bald Mountain “BIG Champion of the Year Booker T. Davis”

Booker Davis executed precision golf during the first two rounds to build a +5 point cushion (+13) headed into the final round of the 2012 BIG tournament. Fighting thru the nerves of pressure filled final round golf and trying to hold on to a big lead, Book managed to sink a couple of crucial white knuckled putts to get home at -1 for the day for a 3-round tally of +12 for the tournament. That ended up being just enough to edge out the hard charging 2009 BIG Champ, Rick “The Slinger” Marshall. His masterful +7 on Day 3 made things very interesting but his final tally of +11 points came up just a single point short. Booker claimed his first BIG cigar title!

2012 was the first BIG held in the highlands of North Carolina at the beautiful 36-hole Rumbling Bald Resort. The BIG was proud to welcome into the 2012 Newbie Class none other than the son of legacy member Rick Marshall, the young pup – Mr. Ryan Marshall! Joining Ryan in this stellar rookie class were everybody’s best friend, Jacky “JAAAACK” Childers along with Greenville’s Mark Oglesby. Rounding out the 2012 Tournament Field were Larry, StephenC, Freddy, Booker, Crissy, brotha Paul, Charlie, Rickster, Doug, Cuz, Scarboro and TonyV.

The facility did an impeccable job of hosting our get together and really made everyone feel welcome and appreciated. The feeling was unanimous from the participants that they would have no problem if the BIG F&EA Lodging Committee were to schedule a return event and explore large resort property homes for the event in lieu of the smaller golf villas we stayed in this go around. The lodging commissioner agreed whole-heartedly and therefore, it was done!

The funniest story of the 2012 event was day 4 during the 3-man scramble. Captain Charlie, along with Chris and Ryan were playing quite well with a good chance to win headed to the final hole. For those that remember, the 18th at the Bald Mountain course is a Par-5 that runs directly along the main thoroughfare of the resort. Chris and Charlie had already hit their tee-shots, one OB and one about a hundred yards off the tee. Needing our young gun Ryan to step up and bomb one of his patented baby draws down the middle of the fairway for us, about the time Ryan had teed up his ball and took a gander down the fairway…jogging directly towards him down the road slightly right of the 18th tee-box was a tall young well endowed, hard-bodied blonde wearing a bright red skimpy halter top and camel toed skin tight jogging pants (picture Bo Derek in “10” running in slow motion on the beach!). As she passed the tee box she gave Ryan a big ol’ smile and said “hey big boy” as she bounced on by. NEEDLESS to say that was the first time I’ve seen anyone shank a driver thus we had to play Captain Charlie’s 100 yard tee shot but somehow still managed to make par to win the Captains Choice. This is my version of the story, by all means please have Ryan give you his version of the story! Thank goodness for Steady “Shakey Earl Griffin” bailing us out of that jam indeed!