ORLANDO - FYMA 2019 was filled with excitement, lead changes, and classic moments; but in the end, there could only be one tower of power, too sweet to be sour. RIVERS!

Five years ago, Rivs was out of golf. "Didn't quite care for it," he said. Then the transformation, a metamorphosis if you will, began to occur.

First it was his attire, a black NTAC shirt led the way. This shirt had miles. It was his "Tiger in red on Sunday" shirt. With it, Rivs became a tiger.

The evolution continued with the addition of golf shorts and shoes... Then a visor. Chaser caught Rivs in the Pro Shop testing a putter and trying on a golf glove. The transformation was almost complete.

What was remaining would shake the Earth. And it did! Golf clubs...his own set of golf clubs!

Rivs ad portas!

His victory story continues below...

Monday - Several Cuppers took advantage of the full week and got a practice round in. Mystic was a roll of the dice and it had its moments...some big ass sand traps and birds. Thanks for the burritos Fratt! Rivs is still waiting for his sausage biscuit!

Rivs honing the short game...or searching for something in his pocket?

Tuesday - While Rivs was at the gates, this was no cake walk. The FYMA power base wouldn't have any of it. It was the New Course, and Vis was loving it. He followed up his all-time FYMA low round (76 on the New Course in 2018) by posting a gross 82 (-9). Fratt, last year's champ, surprised everyone by overcoming the champions handicap and sat in second place (-7) at the end of Day 1. Chop (-6) and PK (-4) were out of the gate strong, just a few strokes back. Rivs, the proverbial tortoise, was in a good position after day 1 (-6).

A newcomer to the top of the leader board showed signs of what could be things to come. G-Money posted his usual consistent scores, but this was different. The numbers were lower (-4) and the drives were longer (175 yds). Was G in it to win it?! Or was one of the other contenders going to deny him again. Round 1 went easily to Vis, but there was plenty of golf left to play! Story continued below...

Wednesday - Another repeat course from 2018, Bella Collina would separate the contenders from Prosecco drinkers. Vis came in the leader and did nothing but better his position. Bella, home of the original "Golfing Cocktail Party," propelled the entire group of Muddy, Vis, and G to shoot at or below their averages. Not surprising, just like last year. Huh, relax equals good golf, who knew?

Frank sang the group home to the tune of "My Way" as they topped the leader board. Vis was low gross again, shooting an impressive 82 (-17 total). Muddy shot an 87 (-8), and G a 100 (-5). Good for 1st, 2nd, and 5th respectively.

Bella treating P.K. (-5) and Chop (-6) well as they posted solid rounds (92 & 93 respectively). An then there was Rivs (-6), inconspicuously shooting his average and remaining within reach of the leaders in 3rd.

Notable performance from Fratt (-3), shooting a 103 on a "real course." While he was in 7th, he was only 5 back of 2nd.

Not to be outdone, Kinger (-2) posted his second straight round under his average, and only trailed the leaders by a few strokes. Sill in the hunt!

Once Ant get his rounds in, he will be a force to contend with. He battled, but the penalty for taking a few years off was too much to overcome.

Whitey missed the Alaska snow and had to depart early from this year's cup.

Great round finished with dinner, soak in the hot tub, and a sauna.

Thursday a.k.a. Moving Day - This got interesting on this round as pressure for the cup mounted. Day 3 can be tough. This is usually the day the body strikes back. Clarkie's back (if it was here), would have had him on a steady dosage of vitamin M and Tito's cocktails. Stiff, tired, and maybe, just possibly, a little hungover, FYMA Cup is four rounds and to win it, you gotta perform all the way through.

Vis was proving he had what it takes to go wire-to-wire at the FYMA. While not equal to his first two rounds, he did what he had to; shooting a 91 and remaining at -17. Muddy was running out of time to catch Vis, although carding an 89 to inch closer to the leader at -12.

P.K. demonstrated the metal of a prior FYMA Champ, posting low gross at 87 and only 1 stroke behind Muddy. Chop's excellent round grossed him an 88 and kept him in the mix at -11.

Rivs quietly shoots a net -4 bringing his 3 day total to -10, 7 shots back of the lead. Rivs keeps getting better every round. G posts his lowest net score of the tournament, and joins the lead pack at -8.

Championship Friday - In what maybe the most competitive finish FYMA Cup history; Rivs posts his lowest net round of the week and storms up the leader board to take the championship (-16). G didn't make it easy, posting his lowest round (gross and net) to finish second, only 2 strokes back (-14). Two cuppers that improved with every round, played the tortoise, and in the end, took the lead.

Prior FYMA Champs (Muddy (-13), PK (-12), and Chop (-11) all posted good scores, but in the end they fell short.

Five golfers within 5 strokes of the lead at the finish. Credit the handicapping.

At least Ant had "Pink Sock Friday".