In 1986 or 87, Al Whitaker managed to put away 30 cans of Stroh's in 18 holes at Robbinhurst and it was thought to be a BOFMECHIAN record that would last forever. No more. This year Ed Sliwa managed to surpass that record by a full six pack. This is Sliwa's first win in a major event.

Steel Mail News couldn't obtain an intelligible interview from Ed on the day of the tournament, but we did manage to catch him a few days later where he does "volunteer" work on the weekends washing and waxing police cars at the LaPorte County Jail.

SMN: Tell us about your stunning victory.

SLIWA: The competition is so stiff in this tournament that I never really thought about winning this trophy let alone setting a new record. On the day of the tourney I had a bit of indigestion after breakfast. In fact, I got off to an exceptionally slow start and had only drank 5 at the end of 4 holes. I was out of the contest.

SMN: What happened next?

SLIWA: Then, I unconsciously picked up my pace. Between the fifth tee and the sixth green I managed to get down five beers.

SMN: Not bad.

SLIWA: No, but the "liter board" showed me in fifth place, about seven behind [Arlie] Williamson, and I still wasn't quite as focused as necessary.

SMN: When do you think you hit your stride.

SLIWA: On the ninth hole, when, from tee to green I got down four. I was drinking like I was in a trance.

SMN: But you weren't done yet, were you?

SLIWA: No, I realized at this point I had a shot. On the back nine I decided to block everything else out and make a run at the championship. I stopped looking at the "liter board". I refused to be distracted by the game or anyone in the gallery.

SMN: Most golfers seem to start off quickly and then taper off towards the end of the day, don't they?

SLIWA: Exactly. I always did too. But like I said, I had that indigestion thing going early.

SMN: Tell us about the fourteenth hole.

SLIWA: To tell you the truth, I don't remember too much about the fourteenth hole. I recall being in the woods for something unrelated to golf and I vaguely remember an ugly scene in a sandtrap on an adjacent fairway that involved a ball retriever and a de-pantsed course ranger, but, honestly, I was so in the zone that it's not clear. All that stuff was secondary.

SMN: You drank seven beers on that hole and still got down in fourteen strokes.

SLIWA: Even I'm amazed. I didn't know I had it in me.

SMN: What was your personal best before this.

SLIWA: Twenty-five, but I once did 20 on nine holes but that's no record either.

SMN: What's next for you Ed? Are you going for a repeat next year? Nobody's ever done that.

SLIWA: It depends. I don't get as much practice since I started doing this volunteer work and weekends are usually when I get in the most quality bar time.

SMN: What brand do you drink?

SLIWA: I like Old Style.

copyright © Steel Mail News - August, 1997