NOLAN/OSTRANDER CLAIM 3RD CONSECUTIVE DDC TITLE TO ESTABLISH DYNASTY

Chicago (AP): The fan poll of 175 voters had Roush/Stachowiak 65%-35%; Stachowiak had a new set of clubs; Nolan didn't hit a golf ball before the weekend; and yet, in the end, the more things changed, the more things stayed the same. For the third consecutive year, and by the largest margin in NFL-DDC history, Matt Nolan and Michael Ostrander captured the 2008 Chicago NFL-DDC at Cog Hill in weather that could only be described as gorgeous.

After exchanging holes through seven, Nolan and Ostrander captured the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th for a five hole lead with seven to go. After winning the 12th to cut their deficit to four, Roush and Stachowiak looked to be on a roll on the 13th green, with both they and Ostrander on in 3 and Nolan on in 4. With Roush closest to the hole, this seemed to be where things would turn. However, in what can only be described as the most clutch moment in the long tradition of the NFL-DDC, Ostrander sank a 17 foot birdie put, and Nolan followed with a 15 footer for par himself, rendering Roush/Stachowiak's par/par moot and pushing the lead back to an insurmountable 5 with 5 to go. For good measure, Nolan and Ostrander won the 14th to capture the tournament, 6 and 4.

"This one felt good," said Ostrander, clutching the Birdie as Iron Mike Ditka looked on, slightly confused as to what was going on. "If we'd have lost this one, the series really would have evened out. Instead, the pressure only builds on Roush and Stachowiak for 2009 in St. Louis." Rumor has it that Roush and Stachowiak have already begun plans to scout and prepare for the course well ahead of time for 2009, and to sneakily not reveal the course until it is too late for Nolan and Ostrander to prepare. "That's fine," said Nolan. "I didn't prepare this year, and I still finished low man."

Despite the tensions and depression that encompassed a third-consecutive loss for Roush and Stachowiak, the media noticed that all participants and significant others appeared to have a most excellent time at the 2008 NFL-DDC at Cog Hill. Stachowiak won the Pro-Am for the 2nd year in a row (this year, at the Pistol), the women got in some shopping on Michigan Avenue, and all attendees got to sing Edelweiss and Kevin's Beer Song with liter mugs of beer, exchange barbs with Mike Ditka before eating his food, and witness a Chicago Cubs victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates (and a quite impressive batting practice show, which included a game of catch between the Pirates and Stachowiak) from the 3rd row of the left-field bleachers at historic Wrigley Field.

"Thanks to everyone for coming in and making the 2008 Chicago NFL-DDC at Cog Hill Legen..." said Nolan. After wiping a tear from his eye and looking to the west, to see the "W" flag flying over Wrigley, he seemed to be finally letting the emotions of the weekend of friendship and victory overtake him. In a soft whisper, and with a gleam in his eye, he concluded, "...dary."