Florida Coach Tried Gamesmanship - and LOST BIG!

Stewart "Buddy" Alexander, the University of Florida Men's Golf Coach, tried gamesmanship in his second round match against Stan Lee - and it came back to haunt him in a 5 & 4 whipping. Alexander often left the green or turned his back and did not even watch Lee putt, leaving him with just the referee. At the ninth hole, Alexander's approach settled less than a foot away and the birdie was conceded by Lee, who still had a 25-footer for a half. Alexander left the green, got in his cart and drove through the tunnel under 87th Avenue and over toward the 10th tee, more than 100 yards from #9 green. Lee made the birdie putt to halve the hole and since Lee had the honor on #9, he retained it on #10. When Lee reached the 10th tee and began to tee up first Alexander asked what he was doing and Stan said he made the birdie putt. Alexander evidently did not believe him and the referee had to confirm it to assure Alexander. So as Stan teed off on #10, a 171-yard par 3, Alexander went inside the clubhouse and did not even watch. But the biggest was yet to come. On #11, a long par-5, Lee had 120 left for his third shot, Alexander was 30 yards closer to the green. Alexander drove ahead, parked his cart in front of Lee and then walked all the way to the green and just stood in the middle of the green for at least a minute, maybe longer. Lee of course could not play, even though it was his turn to play. Alexander, 3-down at the time, was obviously trying to slow-play Lee and get him rattled and out of his rhythm. It only added fuel to the fire - Lee was far to experienced for this childish act that Alexander was attempting. It was very disappointing to watch a golfer who is a former U.S. Amateur Champion (1986) try that kind of gamesmanship. In fact, it was downright disgraceful. There is no place in the game for that kind of behavior - or as Stan is famous for saying "you can really find out a lot about a person when he is losing."