HSI VII Players

Player: JJ
Traveled from: Houston, TX
Details: We enter HSI VII two years removed from JJ's very impressive victory in Dallas.  It was his first HSI victory and he has been improving ever since.  When we played our non-major about a month ago, JJ hit the ball much more consistently than he has going into other HSI events.  JJ has been shooting better than Nick on several occasions as they play together in Houston.  If he can start strong at HSI VII, he should be there at the end.  JJ needs to avoid a bad start, as things tend to snowball in the wrong direction.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:

Hybrid:
Irons: 
Wedges:
 
Putter:  		Titleist 983k 9.5 degree, regular flex graphite shaft
Callaway Steelhead 3 wood, uniflex graphite shaft or
Callaway Steelhead 5 wood, uniflex graphite shaft
18 degree Cobra Baffler
3 - PW Callaway X-20 Tour
54 degree Titleist Vokey
60 degree Ping Zing 2
Yes! C Groove - Marilyn
Memorable HSI VII Moments: Big ass steaks at Outback were a great start since all we ate afterwards were pop-tarts, cold pizza, chips, and charred burgers from the community grill.  We beat Halo!!!  From now on, ban all video games from HSI since the combination of beer, chew, and an alien race destined to destroy all humans was way too much for me to handle.  Sheebz almost re-creating his HSI 1 "Pile of Jeebz" moment by drinking way too much liquor, throwing up in a bottle, dancing on the neighbors' coffee table, and pretty much making me wonder if it was ever going to be "on" that night.  Wondering if we would ever make it to HSI VII after trying to play through a thunderstorm and narrowly escaping crispy death by lighting.
 
Favorite Course: Pine Dunes

Player: SHEEBZ
Traveled from: Dallas, TX
Details: Sheebz is the defending HSI champ this year, although his victory last year was not extremely impressive.  He didn't score really well, but he picked the right times to shoot the right scores on the right holes.  Recently he is very hot and cold.  He was not impressive at the non-major event one month ago.  If Sheebz is to win this year's event, he'll have to pick his spots and he'll have to be very strong on the extra points.  If he can return to his woof and putting performances of the first few HSI events, he definitely could defend his title for the second time in the event's history.
In the Bag: Driver:   
FW: 
Hybrid:

Irons:       
Wedges:
Putter:  		10 degree Ping G2, stiff graphite shaft
15 degree Ping G5, stiff graphite shaft
3 iron 20 degree Ben Hogan hybrid, stiff graphite shaft
5 iron 27 degree Ben Hogan hybrid, stiff graphite shaft
5 iron through PW, Mizuno X-23, steel shaft
50, 54, and 58 degree Titleist Vokey
Odyssey White Steel 2-ball SRT
Memorable HSI VII Moments: JJ scoring birdie on #15 three out of the five times we played it.  Driving 30 minutes just to get a case of beer because the course was in a dry county.  The massive thunder and lightning storm that delayed the final round finish.  The most memorable moment was one that I don't really remember much about - partying with the rednecks that were staying in the condos at the same time as us and feeling like we were the four most intelligent people in a 50 mile radius.
Favorite Course: Pine Dunes

Player: NICK
Traveled from: Houston, TX
Details: Nick was very impressive one month ago when he ran away with our HSI non-major event.  Nick also has some incentive to win this year as both of the other players have had wins since Nick won his last HSI major event.  He has been playing the most consistently of any of the players.  He still is incredibly accurate with all the clubs in his bag, but he isn't without faults.  Nick needs to avoid the holes worse than bogey and he needs to not let any other players sneak in an pick up cheap victories on carry over holes.  I would say that Nick is the favorite to shoot the lowest average scores this year.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:


Irons:
Wedge:
Putter:  		Taylor Made R5 Dual, Regular Flex Graphite shaft
Titleist 14.5 degree 975f stiff flex graphite shaft
Titleist 18.5 degree 975f steel shaft
Adams 21 degree Tight lies strong 7
4 - SW Callaway X-12
52 degree Cleveland Gunmetal 900
Taylor Made Monza Corza
Memorable HSI VII Moments: The lightning and thunder storm, defeating HALO and wondering where 6 hours went in the process.  When we started playing, Sheebz was coherent.  When we finished, he was walking around with one eye shut to avoid the double vision.  The first night at about 3:30 am when that really funny redneck, who I liked for the first half hour but couldn't stand beyond that, came stumbling into our room, too drunk to realize where he was and wanting a bed.  In hindsight, I should have said there was a spare back in JJ and Sheebz's room.  That could have been entertaining.
Favorite Course: Pine Dunes

Player: RYAN POWELL
Traveled from: Kansas City, MO
Details: This is Ryan Powell's first ever HSI event.  None of us have played golf with Powell since college, so we don't know what to expect.  The biggest underdog simply because we don't know his game.  Sure to be intimidated by the HSI pressure.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:
Irons:
Wedge:

Putter:		 Taylor Made 360
Tour Model 21 degree
3-PW Nicklaus AirBear
52 and 56 degree Titleist Vokey
60 degree sand wedge
Ping Zing 2 (used Odyssey Black for first four rounds)
Memorable HSI VII Moments: Rain delay on round 5 that forced us into the club house where we got to revisit our alcoholic 60 year old war veteran friends.  My missed 6 foot put on #1 Sunday morning that would have won me 3 or 4 carry over holes and put me back in the mix.
Favorite Course: Pine Dunes