THE
RHINO INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
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Congratulations to our 2021 Rhino champion, Curtis Wilson, who shot an outstanding 79 to hold off a hard-charging Bruce Hemstreet, who shot 81 (and played the back 9 in just two over par!). Curtis is a relative newcomer to the Rhino, but has played in the last several events. Most people, including me, know him primarily as a soccer guy, but he clearly has some golfing skills as well. Curtis is not only a fellow soccer parent (his daughter played on the same team as Phoebe for many years) but also an accomplished soccer coach, including a critical year as coach of Peter's travel team when they were younger. Although Curtis was unable to stay for the awards ceremony this year, he told me before departing that the Rhino "has taken on a great deal more meaning for him this year" as both his father and a close friend are currently battling liver cancer. So while many folks may not know Curtis, he's a worthy champion who understands and appreciates this event on many levels. Now he just needs to convince his wife Gayle to make room in their house for the Broken Club Trophy. The Rhino 2021 group assembled at the first tee.
Our 2020 Rhino Champ, David Forrest, with Charlie. Congratulations to David Forrest for successfully defending as Rhino Champion in 2020. With the added stroke that comes with being a champion, David's 80 became an 81, which forced a playoff with Curtis Lu (who has consistently been shooting mid-80s rounds in the Rhino, and has apparently used the pandemic to hone his golf game).
We haven't had a playoff at the Rhino since the famed five-man affair in 2008, so it was especially exciting to watch these two battle it out on hole #9. Matt loved that sort of head-to-head competition,
and he would have loved the ending this year. Congratulations to both Curtis and Dave for great rounds, which basically lapped the field, as the next best score this year was an 88.
The Rhino group assembled at the first tee
The Rhino group assembled at the first tee
Jack Hecker wins the Rhino 2017!
Charlie at the first tee.
The Rhino 2015 winner, Todd Berger, with Charlie.
The Rhino 2014 winner, John Sheehan, receives the Trophy from Charlie.
The Rhino 2012 winner, John Sheehan, receives the Trophy from Charlie.
The Rhino 2011 winner, Mason Hecker, receives the Trophy from Charlie.
The Rhino 2010 winner, Bill Fields, receives the Trophy from Charlie.
Rhino XXV, the silver anniversary of the Rhino Invitational Golf Tournament, had 45 golfers who braved a two hour rain delay and soggy conditions at Herndon on Saturday, 44 revelers who braved tough DC-to-Baltimore traffic on Friday night to gather at Camden Yards for a good meal and a celebration of a quarter century of Rhino memories, 17 golfers who participated in the Friday "retro" round at Clifton Park, and 10 people who played Texas Hold ‘Em late into Thursday night. Your participation and enthusiasm for all these events was overwhelming – a true testament to the Rhino spirit of gathering friends and family together for good times and friendly competition. Congratulations to Todd Berger for winning the 2009 Rhino, with an outstanding 82 in very tough, wet conditions. There is some nice symmetry to Todd’s victory on the 25th anniversary of the Rhino, since he also won the inaugural Rhino in 1985. As Todd pointed out while accepting the coveted Broken Club trophy this year, "There wasn’t a trophy when I won before," although there was apparently a small cash prize and maybe a golf towel (or a sock) awarded in those early years. (Perhaps Bill Fields has records on the 1985 award?). In any event, we’ll have to keep a close eye on Todd 25 years from now, when the odds-makers will surely have him favored to win the golden anniversary of the Rhino. Finishing tied for second place this year were two guys better known as soccer players: Dave McCready and Bruce Hemstreet. Dave has quietly posted scores in the low 80s for several of his recent Rhinos but never quite finished "in the money" (as it were) given the alarmingly low numbers that have been posted in recent years, while Bruce made a triumphant return to the Rhino after a ten-year hiatus. Feeding off the soccer mojo in group #5 (which also included Chris Guthrie and David Bird – who played golf more like normal soccer players), Bruce and Dave posted identical 83s and had the clubhouse lead for a very long time. This raised the intriguing possibility that some sort of playoff might be required, and penalty kicks was the obvious choice for these guys. Even though a tie-break is not actually needed at this juncture, we are currently trying to schedule a mutually-agreeable time and place for penalty kicks to determine our second place winner. We will definitely post that result. In honor of the occasion, Charlie composed a poem based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". Read it here!
Attendees of the anniversary dinner celebrating 25 years of the Rhino Golf Tournament
The Rhino 2008 winner, Jon Sack, raises the coveted Broken Club Trophy high above his head. Congratulations Jon!
The Rhino 2007 winner, Gus Kearney, proudly displays the coveted Broken Club Trophy. Congratulations Gus!
2006 Rhino pictures (warning: it may take a long time for the photo page to load if you are on a slow connection).
The Rhino 2006 winner, Bruce Palmieri, receives the coveted Broken Club Trophy. Congratulations Bruce!
2005 Rhino pictures (warning: it may take a long time for the photo page to load if you are on a slow connection).
The Rhino 2004 winner receives the coveted Broken Club Trophy. Congratulations Gus!
More 2004 Rhino pictures (warning: it may take a long time for the photo page to load if you are on a slow connection).
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