2025 McNabb Cup celebrates historic first, legends of hickory golf

By Grant Barber
Courtesy The Heavenly Post-Gazette

I had been dead only about 15 days before I was recruited for the Heavenly Post-Gazette as its newest golf writer. Sure, there are hundreds of sports writers here: a few do make it through the Pearly Gates (which is really a speakeasy door with a sliding panel and a disembodied voice like DeNiro’s to challenge you, but maybe this is just for sportswriters, a jaded, boozy tribe), and those that do pass muster are keenly sought after for the aprés-death newspapers.

The all-powerful Editor commanded me to cover something called The McNabb Cup, a curious hickory golf outing that had caught his attention. He wanted something on the 14th playing of the event, at a field called the White Lake Golf Club in Whitehall, Michigan. The locals call it “The Burial Place of Old Man Gloom.” Ha. He wishes he had such a spot. A lovely layout of velvet-like grass fairways lined by old maples, oaks and beeches. Tom Bendelow designed the first nine in 1916. (Good old Tom. He gave me a quick tour of the place before the competition began.) A club member added a second nine in 1926. The course had undertaken in recent years to clear many of the trees, allowing more light and adding several expansive, sandy waste areas. It suits the eye, I can tell you. Nice spot.

The McNabb Cup is supervised by a group called the August & Ancient Committee, a body as old as it sounds and charged with allowing only the finest of golfers into the contest, golfers who understand what the traditions of the game mean, who honor and respect each other. Trust me, there are fewer and fewer of these people these days, most of them hickory golfers. 

The Committee’s Secretary, Mr. JH Davis Jr., is a well-meaning lieutenant who looks after the players and manages the myriad details of The Cup. He is a nervous man, apt to an unworthy curtness that sometimes overshadows his usual courteous and self-deprecating demeanor. (I noticed that a beer or two at the after-party did wonders for his affliction.) Fortunately for this year, he was assisted by his daughter, Betsy, who charmed the assembled with her good nature and made sure the Secretary didn’t altogether lose it.

As a shade, I can get around most places without causing a ruckus, the only drawback being unable to post up to the bar for cooling refreshment. That’ll come after I file this story. The drinks in heaven are to die for. Get it? Ha, ha.

Okay, here’s the story.

The weather… there is always mention of the weather. There had been ideal weather five days before The Cup, and ideal weather (mid 70s, sunny, clear, low humidity) predicted for several days following, but it was a fretful Secretary who dreaded the symbol for rain that settled itself ominously for Sept. 13 on his phone’s weather app. It did rain, but the dreaded precipitation stopped a good two hours before the 11 a.m. tee time and sunny skies, albeit a little steamy, prevailed. Bullet dodged. The Secretary gulped his coffee gratefully, the while thanking gods of several denominations.

There were to be 33 players in the 2025 contest for Ms. Isabelle McNabb’s cup, won long ago in 1922; but a few had withdrawn for the usual reasons: health, a new grandchild, even an automobile breakdown. So, it was 29 players who teed it up, including eight new hopefuls and six who earned a McNabb badge, awarded by the August & Ancient Committee to all who return for their second year of competition. These included Mike Callahan, Todd Cavender, Jim Hannen, Bill Geisler, Marci Likens, and James Kalajian.

Among the first-time players in the 2025 field were Steve Barnhart (an Ohio man who suffers greatly from Buckeye comments), Stone Bond (a young player with a movie star name and a great golf game), Mike Brown (one of the Wisconsin tribe, the second to bravely try for The Cup, the rest of them being daunted, apparently, by the golfing skills of Michigan hickory players), Sue Cova (the wife of the 2017 McNabb Champion, John, and a welcome addition to any hickory event or gathering where intelligent people are to be found), Jeff Hunt (a gentleman golf instructor from Illinois with a sweet swing and a knack for winning trophies), Rob Julin (a new player from Holt, Michigan, one is beginning to make a name for himself on the Michigan Hickory Tour), Ann Kissell (a beginning golfer, Ms. Kissell reminded me, at least, of a young Isabelle McNabb and though new to the game she has a wonderful swing and set up), and Bill Reed. All of these passed the rigorous test of admittance set by the August & Ancient Committee of The McNabb Cup.

Mr. Reed, of course, is a legend of modern hickory golf, himself the long-time steward of the Heart of America (in Des Moines, Iowa), the longest continuously-held hickory golf event in the U.S. He is also a past board member of the Society of Hickory Golfers and a past president of the Golf Heritage Society (formerly the Golf Collectors Society). Mr. Reed has for the past many years put thousands of miles on his large van providing hickory rental sets to clubs and tournaments across the continental U.S. To have him in the McNabb field was the consummation of a long-held wish for The Committee. Mr. Reed dearly loves golf and speaks passionately about preserving and honoring its history. Every living soul at The McNabb Cup (and at least one other) shares this way of thinking. The players were clearly honored to have him among their number.

For the first time in The Cup’s history a foursome of females was part of the field, indeed, one of them The Cup’s first female captain. Mrs. Kris Elllington had this honor, being chosen in 2024 by then captain Mr. Mike Pishlo. Mrs. Ellington, upon receiving the Captain’s Medal, spoke feelingly about the nature of The Cup, its relevance to modern golf, and the responsbility she felt as the first female captain in deference to its namesake, Miss Isabelle McNabb. She also said that it was “about damn time” that the event had a foursome of women and that she intended to expand upon that number. This reporter heartily concurs.

The field gathered near the first tee, resplendent in blue blazers, the ladies with handsome scarves created by Capt. Ellington for the occasion. It was a group of golfers such as one rarely sees these days of shallow mediocrity. The 2025 photograph of McNabb players will surely please posterity. Then it was time to begin play.

Following a nervous whiff, then a shockingly stern look directed toward her husband, Capt. Ellington drove in the 2025 McNabb Cup with a satisfying knock that grazed the distant branches of trees lining the right side of the first fairway.

The game was on.

It is worth a line or two about this foursome of women. Capt. Ellington is the better half of that marriage and posseses an unwavering game much commended by her peers. Mrs. Susan Cova joined her husband, the much-esteemed John Cova, for the first time, he being a familiar of many years at The Cup. Mrs. Cova, an educator of urchins, knows what it takes to keep order in the classroom and certainly has her husband, and her golf game, well in hand. It was a great joy to the Committee to welcome her to the field. As it was with Ms. Ann Kissell, the particular friend of Mr. Joseph Bodnar, like Cova, a contestant of many years for The Cup. Ms. Kissell, who is fairly new to golf, let alone hickory golf, has a lovely swing and it is to be hoped that as her game progresses she will maintain the incipient grace and style that marks her early efforts. Ms. Marci Likens is an accomplished golfer from Florida who, with her late husband, Ed, has played the game throughout the British Isles and elsewhere as part of their travel business. She was also a course rater and currently helps to manage tournament handicaps for the SoHG. For a sound game one need look no further than Ms. Likens.

A foursome of grace, style, and beauty, these ladies imbued The McNabb Cup with a sense of that elegance of golf at its finest. Author Stephen Proctor (Monarch of the Green, The Long Golden Afternoon) was in the field, he having just completed his third book, Matchless, about the two first great superstars of women’s golf, Joyce Wethered and Glenna Collett. On the heels of this accomplishment, to be a part of the McNabb Cup with its first foursome of women and their connection to those early stars must have done much to warm his heart for The Cup, even if it did not awaken any latent skill for the game.

The lads in the competition duked it out as best they could. Messers. Jeff Hunt, Mike Callander, Bill Geisler, Todd Cavender, Bill Ellington, Scott Staudacher, Todd Riker, Mike Brown, and James Kalajian were among the top contenders and the betting amongst those in the heavenly tier of sportswriters was brisk, odds changing rapidly as the game progressed. 

Eventually, Hunt and Julin pulled ever so slightly in front, followed closely by a pack of players keen to see their names etched on that famous trophy. Mr. Hunt’s, beautiful, compact and repeatable swing has brought him several hickory titles. Mr. Julin, aided by a healthy handicap index, nonetheless plays a taut game with few weaknesses. These two achieved the day’s lowest scores, 74 for Hunt and 78 for Julin. Geisler, Ellington and Kalajian shot 80s, followed by Cova with 81, Staudacher with 83, and Riker with 86.

The main contest, that for The Cup, was conducted under the modified Stableford format. Here, the competition was more intense with several scores bunched in the 30s, but only one who reached the 40s, Julin with a 43, four points ahead of his nearest competitors Geisler and Hunt who posted 39 each. Geisler was awarded second place on a scorecard countback. Mr. Ellington (McNabb Champion in 2016, 2019, and 2023) was not far behind with 38. The 2018 McNabb Cup champion, Mr. Gary Trapani, turned in a lovely 37, as did Mr. Bruce Markwardt and Mr. Kalajian. Strong scores, but not enough for the title in 2025. Keep trying, boys.

Following golf, the players repaired to the McNabb Cottage, a modest c. 1900 home that overlooks Lake Michigan, where they were regaled with food and drink and the day’s golfing champions awarded their medals. Mr. Julin was humble in accepting his trophy and gracious to his competitors. He later hinted that he would be agreeable to speaking with an IMG representative for future arrangements. 

The players were honored to receive a phone call from a junior member of the August & Ancient Committee who stated that The Committee was pleased with the 2025 Cup and with the recipient of the 2025 Ed Ronco Spirit of The Cup Award, Mr. Roger Hill.

Hill has done much to promote and elevate hickory golf, one of the co-founders of the SoHG, he also serves as the Commissioner of the Michigan Hickory Tour. Though Hill was struck down by a vicious cold and could not attend (the first time he has missed a McNabb Cup), the Secretary promised to deliver the handsome gold Kirkwood medal to the ailing Commissioner. Contacted by telephone, the great man spoke feebly from his bed to send his compliments and gratefully acknowledge his acceptance of the honor.

The Spirit of the Cup Award honors the late Ed Ronco, who epitomized so much of what The Cup and modern hickory golf is all about. Mr. Ronco was a much beloved educator in Wyandotte, Mich., and a great friend to all who knew him, and many who did not. He was one of the co-founders of the Wyandotte Hickory Organization, known throughout the world of hickory golf as one of the most companionable of golfing societies. The 2025 McNabb Cup raised $525 for the Wyandotte Scholarship Foundation in Mr. Ronco’s honor.

It is the responsibility of the current McNabb captain to choose a vice captain for the coming year. Capt. Ellington, addressing the group, said “I have given this some serious thought and though it may appear self-serving, my choice for 2026 is a good man, deserving of the honor, and one whom I feel has been overlooked. Our 2026 captain will be Mr. Bill Ellington.”

There was a momentary silence. One person began to tentatively clap and as the reality, the sincerity, of the announcement began to take hold, others joined in a ringing, tumultuous endorsement of the selection. Mr. Ellington is much caressed by the players, the WHO and by his friends in the larger hickory golf community and his appointment will no doubt go far to ease familial tensions as to who was selected a McNabb captain and who was not. Mr. Ellington, for his part, sheepishly accepted, bowed to Capt. Ellington and promised only his best service toward The Cup and its players. To which Capt. Ellington only nodded, murmuring, “Quite right.” Or “damn right you will,”… I couldn’t be sure.)

This reporter has witnessed and reported on many a tournament in his days among the living, but never such a singular event as this. I hope to be a regular on the McNabb Cup beat for as long as this tournament survives and The Editor approves. Meanwhile, I shall speak to the Heavenly Pro and inquire whether we might build such a course as White Lake for our use. It really is quite something.

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The 2025 McNabb Cup Results

Steve Barnhart – 28
Joe Bodnar – 25
Stone Bond – 34
Mike Brown – 31
Mike Callahan – 33
Todd Cavender – 25
John Cova – 36
Sue Cova – 20
Bill Ellington – 38
Capt. Kris Ellington – 28
Luke Fisher – 32
Bill Geisler – 39
Jim Hannen – 26
Jeff Hunt – 39
Rob Julin – 43
James Kalajian – 37
Ann Kissell – 11
Marci Likens – 29
David Lipa – 30
Bruce Markwardt – 37
Jack Maynard – 14
Mike Pishlo – 27
Steven Proctor – 26
Bill Reed – 32
Todd Riker – 32
Brent Ronald – 31
Scott Staudacher – 35
Tim Stroshine – 25
Gary Trapani – 37