Opening Day was not quite as bad as most in recent years, but it was chilly and windy. The greens were far from perfect just having undergone early season renewal, filed with those tiny holes. Charlie Ranucci was not happy with his game. He started with 6 straight fives (one was a par), followed by a six and a seven and finally a four on the par 3 ninth for a whopping 47! On the back his game clicked in. He dropped 4 for par, 1 for a double and the rest were bogey. The 42 gave him a Gross 89. What he did not know walking off the course,  no one else would break 90 on the day! Charlie Ranucci won the Sand Barrens with a net 74.

Josh Czachorowski rolled in at the last possible minute. It was his first tournament at the Barrens. The front was challenging as he managed only to par the par threes while also collecting 3 sevens and and eight. On the back however, he was on fire, dropping five for par and finishing 18 with a Birdie. Placing a gross 40 on the Scorecard, he delivered the best 9 holes of the day and took second place.

John Beuchner delivered some beautiful drives looking more like mid season than early spring. On a day with over half the field not able to break 100, his play was good enough to finish 3rd.

Scotty Shaw delivered some beautiful drives and captured the second low gross score with a 90. He suffered through the tough greens, as did the rest of the field, taking 4th place.

Current Club Champion Glenn Hamm blasted drives way down the fairway, perhaps sending a message that he plans to defend his title. On the fifth hole, par 3, he dropped the ball 3 feet from the hole for an easy Birdie. His net 78 was good enough for 5th place.

Ed Borillo, Art Czachorowski, Andy Swanson, Don St George and Mike Lazarchick rounded out the Top Ten. Eddie Borillo made “A Faint Glimmer of Hope” into a Championship during the 2002 season. Art Czachorowski won his fifth Championship in 2010. Andy Swanson was on his Home Course experiencing moments of brilliance. Don St George was returning to the league and looking fairly healthy after a tough year on injured reserve.  Mike Lazarchick, with a record holding five second place finishes in the finals, missed 5 drives off the tee, really bad. He managed to avoid a really big score with precision chipping and nice saving putts.

SCATS were up for Grabs. Glenn Hamm was the big winner on the day earning $71.25.

Next Tournament Brigantine on April 21st.