Past Cactus Cup Winners
BLACK TEAM
The 30th Annual Desert Classic was won by the BLACK TEAM! After finishing dead last after round one, the team rallied to get the most points on day 2! Finishing 4th over-all after 3 days they earned a two round bye in the shootout. Winning a three-way "chip-off" against Team Purple and Team Camo to take the Cactus Cup home.
Black Team had not won since 2013. This was probably the greatest come back in DC History!
Captain Steve "McFly" McFarland, Assistant Captain Rick "RJ" Jordan, Assistant Captain Dave "Cusaan" Cusano, Assistant Captain Tim "Petty" Pettengill, Matt "Matty P" Patterson, Marcus "Mad-Dog" Davis, Will "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, Bob "LEP" Leppek, Chris "Vargie" Vargas, Nick "Coach" Aliotti, Barry "Mikokener" Hyde and Erick "The Chef" Johnson. Special mention to Javier "Javie C" Vandesteeg, who was on the IR.
ORANGE TEAM
2024 The Year of the "Frost Delay"
2024's Desert Classic Champions are TEAM ORANGE, winning a modified "shoot-out" due to the time restraints caused by a 90-minute frost delay. The Orange Team had the most points in the tournament and earned a one-hole buy. They ultimately defeated the Purple Team in a "chip-off" to take home their first ever Cactus Cup! The team was led by Scott "BEEK" Vanderbeek, and co-captained by Dennis "D-Will" Williams & Kevin "The GM" Marshall. The rest of the team included, Lefty, DVO, A-LO, Trieb, PD, G-Baby, 50-Shades & the 2024 MVP GROUPER!
PURPLE TEAM
The PURPLE People Eaters came to play. They scored the most points on day one and never looked back. The team headed by the "Doctor", Mark Debruin along with the assistant captain Jason Craig and Jimmy Sewell the Purple Team earned the coveted two-hole bye. They took full advantage and moved to the final hole and played against the upstart "Dirty White Boys". It was down to the wire, but anchor putter Kevin "JERSEY" Peters drained a forty-foot putt for birdie, and it was over! After the incredible finish, Jersey was named the 2023 Gerry Layo MVP recipient. The video will be added soon.
GRAY TEAM
Captain Craig "NAGZ" Nagler and Assistant Captains Ric "TRICKY RICKY" Halloway & Gary "G-DUNN" Dunn, Scottsdale, AZ
RED TEAM
Captain Chris "CM" Miller and Assistant Captain Gary "GWIZ" Johnson, Scottsdale, AZ
CAMO TEAM
"COVID CLASSIC" -Captain Jimmy "COOZ" Cusack & Assistant Steve "Junior" Hunter, Coronado, CA
NAVY TEAM
Captain Ed "TEMPKER" Kempker & Assistant Captain John "JB" Bierer, San Diego, CA
RED TEAM
Captain Chirs "CM" Miller & Assistant Captain Jimmy "COOZ" Cusack, San Diego, CA
4-PEAT!
RED TEAM
Captain Mark "DOC" Debruin & Assistant Captain Chris "CM" Miller, San Diego, CA
3-PEAT!
RED TEAM
Captain Mark "DOC" Debruin & Assistant Captain Chris "CM" Miller, San Diego, CA
RED TEAM
20th Anniversary Year
Captain Mark "DOC" Debruin and Assistant Captain John "JP Lite" Petersen, La Costa, CA
NAVY TEAM
Captain Ed "TEMPKER" Kempker and Assistant Captain John "JB" Bierer, La Costa, CA
NAVY TEAM
Captain Ed "TEMPKER" Kempker and Assistant Captain John "JB" Bierer, San Diego, CA
BLACK TEAM
Captain Steve "MCFLY" McFarland & Assistant Captain Javier "JAVIE C" Vandesteeg, San Diego, CA
RED TEAM
Captain Mark "DOC" Debruin, San Diego, CA
NAVY TEAM
Captain Bret "BUCK" Petersen, San Diego, CA
WAIT LIST
TOURNAMENT CANCELLED DUE TO RECESSION
WHITE TEAM
Dave "DR" Rodgers, La Jolla, CA
RED TEAM
Rob "Head-Dawg" Headley, San Diego, CA
BLACK TEAM
First Year with TEAMS in a RYDER CUP style format - Captain Steve "McFly" McFarland, Assistant captain Javier "Javie C" Vandesteeg, Palm Desert, CA
Kevin "KK" Kelly & Jimmy "Stroka" Sroka
KEVIN "KK" KELLY & JIMMY "STROKA" SROKA, LAS VEGAS, NV
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KIRK "MOODS" MOODY & REX "THE ACTOR" RYON, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Rex was an actor; his best role was in Beverly Hills Cop as a security guard. Sadly, Rex passed away several years ago.
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RALPH "RALPHY" STONEKING & MORGAN "THE FUSS" FUSSELL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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DAVID "DR" RODGERS & LARRY "THE KING" SIMON, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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JIMMY "COOZ" CUSACK & KOTARO "TARO" ARAI, LAS VEGAS, NV
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BOB "MOTTS" MOTLEY & MIKE "HARRIS" HARRIS, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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CHUCK "CHUCKY P" PETERSON & LARRY "THE KING" SIMON, PALM DESERT, CA
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MARK "MALTO-MEAL" MALTZER & CHUCK "FREEZER" FREIJE, LA COSTA, CA
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MARK "MALTO-MEAL" MALTZER & CHUCK "FREEZER" FREIJE, LAS VEGAS, NV
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WAYNE VOWEL & JIM JONES, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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KEVIN MCFARLAND & JIM JUNGSTEN
The very first year was won by Kevin McFarland & Jim Jungsten. The field was just 8 players, and it was held in Palm Desert, California. The original field was; Steve McFarland, Kevin McFarland, Duncan McCallum, Morgan Fussell, Jim Jones, John Elston, Jake Melville and Jim Jungsten.
