2019 Edisto Beach “BIG Champion of the Year Chris Graham”

After coming close “but no cigar” a few times at the BIG tournament, the commish Chris “Crissy” Graham broke thru to capture his first BIG Stogey title in only his 13th try! Not only did he finally break thru, in doing so he also became the FIRST WIRE TO WIRE winner in BIG history.

The 2019 BIG was held at the quaint and majestic Edisto Beach Plantation Course, with the initial round being played at it’s sister facility, the extremely difficult Stono-Ferry Golf Club just off the Island. Day 1 saw both Graham boys vault to the top of the leaderboard with matching and dazzling +5 scores. Scotty “Fat boys never wear stripes” DePiazza took the 3rd podium spot with an electric +4 performance.

Day two was held at the develish Edisto Plantation Course. Both Crissy (+7) and Scotty (+6) continued their steady play as both posted solid +2 second round scores. Low score of the day podium winners were Jaaackkk Childers with a smooth little +6 round, followed by the ever talkative Woodrow “Woody” Matthews with slick and fashionable +5 effort of his own. Three others shared 3rd on the day at +3 (Cranford daddy-Cranford son-Shakey Earl Griff)

Round 3 began with five players within a few points of the lead. The day promised to be a survival shoot out as the winds were whipping off of the Atlantic with gusts in the mid-20s. The match stayed close until the very end. Local Edisto Island fishing legend William “the Mackerel” Hackett mastered a great round 3 in the tough windy conditions to post a solid +6 three day total and waited as the feature group dueled it out to the finish line in the demanding elements. Standing on the 18th teebox, both Crissy and Jaaack were tied at +7. Crissy was able to secure his first ever BIG Stogey with a masterful bogey on the final hole to edge out as his dear friend who unfortunately found the H2O with his drive and eventually missed an 8 footer for a Stogey tying bogey. Two-time BIG champ Tony “Tiger” Vaughn made things very interesting with an exceptional +7 final round leading performance but fell just a few points off the final mark. It was a hard earned, grind it out style of win by the virgin champ and finally, after only 13 tries, that elusive BIG Cigar finally made its way back home to Aiken where it was proudly displayed on the ceiling over the master bed, I mean on the mantle in the living room!

2019 saw the BIG welcome in another first class newbie from Greenville via Furman, none other than Sir Robert Chance! It was awesome to see Bob mesh into the group so seamlessly, a very welcome addition to the brotherhood he makes, welcome aboard Bob! Those joining Chancey in witnessing hell freezing over in the disguise of Crissy finally winning his first El’ Grande Cigar in 2019 were Larry, Jaaacckkk, Steve-oh, Jeremy, Scotty, Pauly, Charlie, William, BrianH, KK, TonyLo, Rick, Ryan, Darrell, Woody and TonyV, who simply said…it’s about time!

The 2019 Griffin Cup was presented to a shocked and humble Rick Marshall. I think the words he used in his acceptance speech were “What? Y’all couldn’t find anyone else to give this to? Make me a Jack and Coke while you’re up!” Congrats Ricky, we appreciate everything you have done for the BIG all these years.