| 16
| Moudry, Tom
| Mouds
| 6.4
| 1.7
| 69 at Dobson Ranch in Mesa AZ (after 4 double screwdrivers)
| One of the top golfers in the field. Not a weakness in his game. Combines length off the tee with consistent iron play and superb putting stroke. Always ready to play despite enduring long winter season in Minnesota. Projected Captain's pick in 2006 or 2007.
| 6
| Griggs, Reg
| Reg
| 7.0
| 4.9
| 72 at Sequoyah CC
| A gifted golfer who has great length off the tee, a strong iron game and a solid putting stroke. Usually plays well under pressure, especially against good opponents. Loves the Singles format because he doesn't have to rely on anyone else.
| 18
| Pearl, Jamie
| Pearl
| 7.3
| 6.5
| 76 Paradise Valley
| A very good player who has significantly improved his game since last appearing in the Hunt in 2003. Good length off the tee and excellent iron play are his trademark. Unlike many in the tournament, enjoys the pressure of Match Play. High draft position in 2005 is not a fluke.
| 23
| Smith, Derek
| D
| 7.6
| 7.0
| 74 at Hillcrest CC in Miami, Florida
| A very good player who always comes prepared to play both mentally and physically. With last year's Hunt on the line, hit the most clutch shot in the tournament's history. He is one of the top strategists in the field and he devotes more time to practice than most players. He takes the game seriously, but not to a fault. Other players enjoy playing with him and is considered by many to be a top candidate for Captaincy in the near future.
| 20
| Robinson, Andrew
| Yips
| 8.2
| 7.1
| 75 at the Old Course, St. Andrews
| Up and down player who has performed better the past two years, partially due to a run of good health following back surgery in 2002. One of the top drivers in the field, but struggles at times with his irons. Continues to have trouble with short putts. Has the game to go low but hasn't delivered at The Hunt. Must improve performance in team matches.
| 21
| Rudney, Eric
| E
| 8.9
| 6.5
| 74 at Whirlwind Golf Course in Phoenix
| Known as the Nick Faldo of the Desert Hunt, his winning record defies description. Like Tiger Woods, the secret to his game is in his preparation. Beyond great ability, no one works harder at getting ready for the tournament. Can hit every club in the bag and no one putts better when the match
is on the line.
| 11
| Hoff, Chris
| Hoffer
| 9.1
| 8.7
| 78 at Wente
| Emerged as one of the tournament's top players following last year's performance. Good overall player who makes up for a lack of distance with accuracy. Excels at course management. Tough competitor who thrives on pressure. Always seems to make a shot when he needs one. A Captains' favorite, he'll partner with anyone and doesn't shy away from difficult matches.
| 10
| Dunphy, Joe
| Joe
| 9.3
| 5.2
| 72 at Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale
| One of the most talented players in the field who also performs well under pressure. After being as low as a five handicap playing right handed his entire life, in 2003 he began playing left handed and is well on his way to a single digit cap. Possesses golf smarts with the rare combination of getting strokes while caddying an eight handicap at the same time. Great recovery player and excellent horseshoe style putter. He can get distracted or antsy at times; can also be squirrely with the driver but has no problem throwing it back in the bag.
| 19
| Oswald, Clay
| The Butcher
| 9.7
| 7.8
| 75 Turnberry, Scotland
| Somewhat of a mystery for 2005 Hunt after missing two years. Always one of the better players in the field, he has not been able to play as much recently. Overall game is usually excellent although he can get wild with the driver at times. Has reputation as a strong leader and valued teammate who can "coach" a player around the course. Often referred to as the Desert Hunt's greatest Captain.
| 22
| Slovensky, Mark
| Slo
| 10.1
| 3.2
| 69 at Wildfire Faldo
| A top talent in the field. A clutch shot maker who occasionally can get erratic. Can be very creative if necessary and his recovery skills are legendary. Unorthodox, but strong putter. One of the true characters in the tournament, he's been known to drink a 12 pack or listen to tunes while competing. Irritates some with his Trevinoish gamesmanship that can be subtle or not so subtle.
| 13
| Larson, Spencer
| Spence
| 10.1
| 7.8
| 76 at Indian Valley in Fairfax, CA
| Explosive player who has worked hard at turning his game around after several down years. A big hitter with a better-than-average short game and excellent putting stroke. Reportedly playing as well as anyone at the time of the draft, he is overdue for a breakout year and his success will be crucial for Team Griggs.
| 5
| Butner, Ces
| Ces
| 10.4
| 7.4
| 74 at Sequoyah and Alameda Golf Course
| Good all-around player who had a breakthrough year in 2004. Not long off the tee, but a straight hitter with solid iron and putting skills. Never backs down from a challenge. Always a strong leader, should excel at Captaincy in 2005.
| 31
| Rei, Matt
|
| 10.6
| 9.7
|
|
| 25
| Soghikian, Shahan
|
| 11.0
| 10.9
| 76 at Eagle Falls Palm Desert
| Solid player with good fundamentals and decent tournament experience should bode well for rookie year. Like many others in the field, can get streaky at times going very low or very high. Biggest questions center on how much playing time he can get in prior to the Hunt, how he will hold up to match play pressure, and does he have the length to deal with longer desert-style courses versus home course set-up.
| 4
| Breedlove, Darell
| Breed
| 11.5
| 9.8
| 79 at Primm Valley in Las Vegas
| One of few players who regularly plays better during the Hunt than in non-tournamnet action. Big hitter who can sometimes get wild, particularly off the tee. Rated highly as a winning Captain, he plays smart and he's considered by many to be a great partner in team competitions. Current struggles with his game resulted in a lower-than-expected draft selection. But, watch out, this guy always comes ready to play.
| 9
| Del Fante, Bruce
| BD
| 12.2
| 10.9
| 78 at Sequoyah
| Continues to find ways to improve his game. Even with lower handicap remains one of the most valuable players in the field because of his overall skill and performance under pressure. Driving the ball a long ways with accuracy. Stellar short game and putting compares favorably to a single digit player.
| 3
| Bigelow, Rob
| Bigs
| 15.5
| 13.7
| 76 West Seattle Golf Course
| An up-and-down player with lots of game. When playing well, can compete with any player in the field. Must rebound from a disappointing 2004 event. Enjoys reputation as a gamer and is a highly regarded and popular partner in team matches. Good iron player with above average putting skills.
| 15
| Macy, Matthew
| Whale
| 15.5
| 15.0
| 76 at Indian Valley in Fairfax, CA
| Recent rise in handicap is not an indication of his capability or skill. Doesn't play as often as some in field, but has managed to develop a slow, repeatable swing that is effective. Lack of distance off the tee is more than made up by a deadly putter. May feel added pressure this year due to early draft selection.
| 8
| Coupin, Paul
| The Boa
| 16.6
| 15.6
| 82 at Rancho Solano in Fairfield, CA
| A once-streaky player has become more consistent with regular play and practice. Has developed a greater repertoire of shots and meltdowns are less frequent now. Could use greater distance off the tee, but makes up for with strong iron play. Recognized as a great partner for team formats, he often plays to his handicap. His winning Captaincy is a role model for overall excellence.
| 14
| Levey, Bill
| The Glob
| 17.1
| 16.2
| 89 at PGA West Nicklaus
| Great match play performer who usually plays close to or at his index. Has worked hard to develop greater length and consistency off the tee. Fairway woods and long irons are solid, but can have trouble with shorter irons at times. Excellent chipper and putter. A former winning Captain, he's also one of the top pressure players in the field. Always seems to peak at the right time regardless of how he's playing coming into the event.
| 29
| Protopappas, John
| Proto
| 17.7
| 17.4
| 88
|
| 17
| Mullen, Dave
| Mull
| 20.2
| 15.0
| 23 at Golden Tee in Castro Valley (brought my own putter; owned the clowns mouth) also had 80 at Cottonwood Valley and Lake Chabot
| The key to his game is getting off the tee successfully. When he does, he's tough. He's added length to his driver and remains a consistent ball striker and putter. At times, has trouble getting out of the sand.
| 24
| Woodhead, Steve
| Woody
| 21.5
| 21.4
| 93 at Sonoma National
| A strong, athletic golfer who needs to get his practice and rounds in to be successful. A fierce competitor, who hates losing, he has learned to prepare his game for The Hunt. His iron play and putting are solid, but has had difficulty taming the driver. One of only five winning Captains, his strong leadership in 2001 propelled his team to a close victory over the favored opposition.
| 7
| Connors, Ron
| Coach
| 26.2
| 23.6
| 86 at Lake Chabot GC in Oakland
| Game has improved in a number of areas, especially getting off the tee box, which was a weak spot. Has lengthened his driver considerably and fairway woods are very solid. A former winning Captain, he is very coachable and continues to leverage his handicap to his advantage in match play format. Will need to contribute in 2005 for Team Butner to have success.
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