Chapter 17: Making the Cut

“Good morning, Alex,” my mom said as I stepped out of the en suite bathroom to get dressed. I was becoming comfortable enough with myself that I didn’t let the fact that mom was sitting on my bed staring at me, force me to run and hide. I decided that since I liked being nude, I wasn’t going to let her ruin that by over-reacting to her presence.

“Why don’t you wear the blue shirt today,” she suggested.

It didn’t matter to me so I began to get dressed while she watched me. I knew that whatever I wore would be covered in rain gear sometime later today.

This was not the kind of day the Chamber of Commerce talked about when they advertised their island. The skies were overcast and heavy with rain and the winds were whipping across the island at over twenty knots. Forecasters called for it to blow through this morning. I mentally went through how I’d trim the sails to make it through this storm.

Dressed, we made our way to the table for some breakfast. I was mildly surprised that everyone else was up this early.

“I called the clubhouse and they said they are going to delay the start of the tournament,” Dad told me. “The official announcement will come shortly. I have the TV on the Golf Channel to keep an eye on it.”

“Alex, after you went to bed last night, we received a phone call from Dr. Griswold. He said he was told that when we go to fly home after the tournament, the CIA plans to arrest one of your sisters at the airport and force you to cooperate. He also said he was told not to offer us asylum at the Embassy,” Cynthiana said as we sat having coffee. “I checked with some of my people and they said to be prepared for them to make her experience as unpleasant as possible. They also said not to give yourself up or offer to trade places. You’ll both end up disappearing.”

I made up my mind right then that no one would take either of us alive. And I would use all the power within me to leave a ‘scorched earth’ of the government behind. I began to formulate a plan as the others all talked around me.

It was later when we drove the 300 meters up to the clubhouse. They had delayed the tee times forty minutes, so now we teed off at 11:35. I was paired with Carlos Cavalcante from Brazil and Winston Jones from Harland, Kentucky. Carlos had played in the PGA for half a season but had not qualified to return, hence the Korn Ferry tour. Winston Jones, like myself, was a newbie on the tour having just graduated from the University of Kentucky.

Several players had seen my interview, (it had been run enough times on the Golf Channel), and stopped to say hi or wish me luck. But the general feeling was one of dread at going out in the storm to warm up or to start the tournament. Fortunately, common sense had prevailed and the start times were pushed back. That meant we would be finishing in the dark if the round ran much later. Of course, warming up today had gone out the window with the weather as well. Still, we had a little time to hit some balls before we teed off.

My first round of professional golf, even though I was playing on an amateur card, I thought was anticlimactic. Not at all like I had envisioned in my head all those months ago when I barely broke 90 and was dreaming of the tour. I shot a 34 on the back nine, and a 36 on the front for a respectable 2 under par 70. I left the course intending to make a quick getaway. I wanted to get back to the house to see what was going on with the government.

“Mr. Masters, could you come with me,” a tournament official asked as he pulled up beside me in a cart. Dad and I hopped on and wondered what now? He took us to a side entrance and said, “We had to move the interviews inside. That wind got the tent this morning.” After letting us out, he drove off. I guess he assumed I knew what I was supposed to do. Fortunately one of the Golf Channel producers was coming out and he told us they were looking for me inside.

They were finishing up with another golfer, so I had to wait a minute. Finally the producer said, “You ready, Alex?” I just nodded. “Good. Then don’t let them get to you. They’re just trying to make their deadlines.”

“Next is Alex Masters. Alex is an eighteen year old high school senior who’s playing his first Korn Ferry event on a sponsor’s exemption. His card is temporary amateur. He shot a 2 two under seventy for his round today. Questions?”

“Alex, how did it feel to play on your first tour event?”

“Alex, how did you cope with the wind out there today?” It had quit raining by the time we teed off.

“Did you get any hole-in-ones?” and “Why not?”

“What made you change clubs on the seventh fairway?”

“How does it feel to be one of only nine guys with sub-par rounds?”

“Wait! What!” I cried. “What do you mean?” I asked, wanting more information.

“Your 70 puts you tied for fourth place after the first round,” the reporter explained.

“Wow!” I said. “I didn’t know.”

The hardened professional reporters ate that up. “So you don’t watch the scoreboards?” one asked.

“What scoreboards? I didn’t see any scoreboards?” I replied honestly. Later, I learned that soundbite made ESPN and was shown over and over. I didn’t care. I was tied for fourth place after the first round of a professional golf tournament! And I had been so worried I’d fall flat on my face. I practically floated home.

You’d have thought I’d won the tournament the way Cynthiana reacted when she saw me. “You’re doing so much better than we thought you would,” she said.

Of course everyone hugged me and then dragged me to the table. Suddenly, I was starved! After the meal, we sat around discussing our options for getting off the island on Monday when Isabella came in.

“I just got off the phone with Alfred,” Isabella told us. “The boat will be fixed by Friday, and they are sailing back to Paradise Island. They’ll be here sometime Sunday morning. He said for us to have provisions for at least a week at sea, but didn’t give me any particulars about where we were going.”

Of course, everyone had questions and ideas, and the plans, minimal as they were, were accepted and expounded upon. After an hour, I got up to go shower and get to bed. I was teeing off early tomorrow morning. Sometime during the night, I discovered Kelly Ann in the bed with me. I just rolled over and hugged her and went back to sleep.

It was still dark when I went to the practice area Friday Morning. I had an hour and ten minutes before we teed off at 7:45am. I needed every bit of it to get loosened up and get focused on my game. The morning dawned crisp and clear. The dampness of the fairways and greens really helped. I finished the front nine with a respectable 32. The back nine was a little tougher as the greens dried out and the sea breeze picked up. I only managed a par round of 36 for a second round of 68. Combined with yesterday’s score, I was at six under for the tournament so far. Unless a bunch of guys shot some fantastic numbers, I should be playing the weekend.

With the early start, I was also among the early finishers. When I went in to do my interviews, Dad reminded me to make sure to talk about the course and the golf club and how warm and friendly everyone had been. I had forgotten to mention that yesterday. I discovered I was tied for second with a score of minus 6, ‘in the clubhouse’, meaning I had finished my round while others hadn’t even teed off yet.

Dad and I decided to grab a sandwich in the grill at the club house and watch a little of the other golfers. In a way, the pressure of failing was almost off my shoulders, barring a sudden hoard of low scores. I enjoyed sitting with my dad and watching the other golfers while we ate. It had been a long time. Some guys in suits came in and I tensed up, but soon figured out they were working and sneaked out to watch a little golf. Either that or they were agents with an acting ability. Still, we didn’t discuss anything sensitive.

Around two thirty, we decided to go back to the rental house. There were enough scores posted that it looked pretty certain I would make the ‘low seventy and ties’. That means I would be playing the weekend!

We spotted the black SUV as we drove up to the house. On second glance there was a man in a suit standing outside the door. It took a minute but I recognized him as one of Dr. Griswold’s security people so I told dad and we both relaxed.

Before we could get in the door, Dr. Griswold came out. He was dressed casually in slacks and a Paradise Island Golf Club shirt with an officials badge on a lanyard around his neck like many of the officials had been wearing this morning.

“Congratulations, Alex!” he said when he saw me. “I was just heading home from officiating at the golf tournament this morning and wanted to commend you on a fine round.”

We spoke for just a minute and then he climbed in his car and left.

“I wonder what that was all about?” dad asked as we went in.

After more congratulations all around, we sat down in the living room for another pow-wow.

“Dr. Griswold stopped by to suggest that we not try to fly out on Monday. He said we should wait until Tuesday or Wednesday before trying to go home,” Cynthiana explained. “When I told him that your father had to fly out to get back to work, he suggested he leave Sunday to avoid the rush. We were just discussing it. Alex? How would you feel if Isabella caddied for you on Sunday?”

“What do you think, Dad? Can she do it. You’re in a much better position to say than me,” I replied.

“Well, the facilities are male only, so if she needs the bathroom she’ll have to go in the restaurant,” Dad told us. “But other than that, a few simple guidelines on caddying and a good night’s rest and I’d say she will do just fine. The bag itself weighs about thirty pounds, and there’s a second strap to carry it like a backpack if it gets too heavy. As for club selection and advice on the course, you’ll have to handle that. But you do most of that anyway. I also have my yardage book with all my notes for her to use.”

Then to Isabella he added, “But I’d like to have it back when you finish, as a souvenir.”

“Alex, are you sure it’s okay. I’ve played some, but I’ve never been a professional caddy before,” Isabella said.

“I guess it’s a good thing I’m playing on an amateur card, otherwise you guys would have to figure out how to divide the caddy’s portion of my winnings.”

“Winnings?” Kelly Anne asked.

“Yeah. If Cynthiana hadn’t set me up on an amateur card, every player who makes the weekend gets something. I think the winner gets around $100,000.”

“Damn, I knew I should have caddied for him!” Kelly Ann said.

We were watching the Golf Channel later that night when it was announced that I was in ninth place and low amateur for the final two rounds. Of course everyone went a little bonkers for a moment. After hugs and congratulations, I decided to head for bed. But I didn’t have to get up early because I was in the fifth from the last pairing to tee off. They said it would be at 11:25am.

Carina followed me to my room and began undressing.

“Alex, I hope you don’t mind if I stay the night,” she asked. “I have a few thing to tell you.”

“I’d be delighted,” I told her

“First, I spoke to Archara this afternoon and they’ll be here about sundown Saturday, but they won’t come to the pier until Sunday afternoon. When they get here, whoever doesn’t go to your tournament will load our luggage and the provisions on board.”

“That’s okay. They’ve all seen me play,” I told her.

“Well, Roland and I haven’t, and we’re looking forward to it,” she said as she smiled.

“Dr. Griswold has helped us arrange a flight in a private plane for your dad. He’ll fly to Fort Lauderdale, where he’ll get a piggyback (ride as third officer in the cockpit) back to Atlanta. Dr. Griswold also took care of immigrations for all of us here in the Bahamas. By-the-way, we currently have two agents on duty at your home in Marietta, so he should be okay.”

“That sounds great. I’m a little sorry he won’t be here to caddy for me on Sunday. He really seemed to be getting into it,” I told her.

“After you finish on Sunday, we’ll all board the boat as soon as possible and set sail. If they come after us, you’ll have to protect us once we are at sea,” Carina said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them if they get too close,” I replied.

“Alex, as you know, Alfred and Archara are adamant about their lifestyle aboard their boat. Your mother and sisters will be there as well. Are you going to have a problem with it if they are naked on board?” she asked. “If so, I can try to talk to Archara.”

“I don’t think so, but let me talk with them tomorrow,” I replied.

Finally...” she drug it out for a moment. “Roland says ... I-can-have-your-baby!” she almost screamed as she lunged at me. I was stunned at first. I never thought that he would agree. Then I hugged her excitedly as I got caught up in her enthusiasm.

“Really?” I asked. “I’m going to be a daddy?”

“Well, he did have a couple of conditions. His name will be on the birth certificate as the father and the baby will bear the Rappeneau name. Are you okay with that?” she asked.

“Will I be able to see him?” I asked. “ ... or her?”

“Of course, Silly!” she giggled. “Roland is just protecting them for the future. Let’s start practicing making a baby!”

“You do know that Captain Alfred and Archara have an open policy concerning nudity and sex onboard The Serendipity, don’t you?” I asked my mom.

“Why do you always refer to him as Captain Alfred?” my mom responded.

“Why are you trying to change the subject?” I asked in return.

“Why are you trying to embarrass your mother?” she tried.

“Because I love you. Now answer the question and use small words so I can understand.”

“Well ... okay,” she sighed dramatically. “Yes. I do understand that they run around naked and have lots of sex!”

“Mom!” Jenna cried. “You’re just trying to make it sound bad!”

“Yeah, Mom. We discussed this last night with Dr. Roland and Dr. Carina. Are you backing out now? Do you really want them to capture one of us?” Kelly Ann said.

“Of course not, Honey. I just don’t feel comfortable discussing it with your brother,” mom told her.

“Well, you better get comfortable real quick then, because tomorrow you’re gonna be naked while you’re discussing it!” Kelly Ann fired back.

“You know? She has a point there,” Isabella said. “I wonder if she understands who they all have sex with?”

The hardest part of Saturday’s round was the wait. I woke up feeling good and ready to play but then had to wait while thirty-one other pairings went off before it was our turn. The starter actually called out my name, “Next, Alex Masters, from Marietta, Georgia!” It was too cool!

They refer to Saturday as moving day because that’s when the serious contenders move into position for the final round on Sunday. And buddy, was I moving! As I stood over that seven foot putt for birdie on eighteen, I knew it was for the lead and kept thinking of how I had dreamed of moments like this.

The post round interview was insane! An eighteen-year-old amateur leading after three rounds on the Korn Ferry tour. I tried to keep it in perspective. I didn’t want to get too emotional and bust up all the reporter’s equipment. Finally they let me go. I walked through the clubhouse, out the players entrance and climbed in the car beside dad before I let out a yell. Unfortunately, it busted some of the rental car’s instruments.