Brigantine  showed the ware and tear of Hurricane Sandy,  the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic Coast Season.  In places the greens were far from what is normally experienced and the sparse fairways displayed considerable patches of dry mud. Well below normal spring temperatures, gusty wind further cooled the already chilly day.

The OCAGA Blog photographer showed the disturbing aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. That is a boat between those houses in the background and far less than a lush fairway.

Marc Bohan was not happy with his game. He failed to sink any of his birdie attempts, settling for 9 pars, placing a gross 83 on the Scorecard.  While Marc suffered with minor irritation, nearly half the field could not break 100. Dispelling the notion that his low handicap prevents him winning, Marc took the second tournament of year.  The first four all finished with net 74, positions separated only by handicap.

The Godfather was still lamenting the tragic loss of Little Tony Sickler. Tony was clearly the favorite on the path to the championship title, when his heart gave out late last season, opening the door for Glenn Hamm to get in to the final four and end up taking the title. Sipping a glass of Amaro Montenegro  and watching the golf tournament on his private satellite feed, a smile broke the lamentation. Big Charlie was delivering . A slow start, only 1 par, frustrated Charlie during a tough front nine 47. The back however, was a different story. Three more pars and no sixes totaling 42, gave Charlie second place with a gross 89. After winning the first tournament and dropping closest to the pin this day on 7, for three additional points, Charlie Ranucci holds a 15 point lead over second place Bohan!

Mike Unger with a booming drive, followed by a nicely executed fairway metal, opened with a Birdie on 1. He thought just maybe this will be my day.  Avoiding those nagging big score holes on the front, he delivered a sweet 45 and with his handicap enjoyed a big lead over Marc Bohan. The back was chillier, but he held the lead until Marc finally tied him on 16. He battled Bohan even over the last two holes and secured third place.

David Hamm was licking his chops.  His handicap had finally climbed back up to a reasonable number (24) and the belief that maybe now he could actually have a shot at winning a tournament.  After one miraculous finish early in his OCAGA tour career his handicap dropped down below his father, 12 to open the 2010 season.  A raggedy finish last season however, placed him in position to challenge Bohan this year until the end. After dropping 5 strokes on 15 and 16 to one behind, David came back to tie Marc on 17 and played 18 even, placing overall 4^th for the day.

The Polish American Tavern in beautiful downtown Pittsburgh was filled with early season revelry. The celebration last season when Mike Lazarchick finally broke through to win a championship, the Emerald Links Monday Night League. The Tavern placed his picture in the elaborate shrine featuring young Stud Scotty Shawlinski, the OCAGA 2011 Champion and living legend Art Czachorowski, 5 Time OCAGA Champion.  Now in 2013, the early Chant is Artski Sixski!  Czak was steady, played pretty much bogey golf, with 3 pars that easily could have been Birdie. When his putting stroke gets to mid season greens, watch out, so say the true believers. Art finished 5^th, just two strokes off the pace.

Rounding out the top ten were Glenn Hamm, Jeff Spickler, Ed Borillo, Jack Haines and Mike Lazarchick.

TOP TEN AFTER TWO

51           Ranucci
36           Bohan
32           Hamm, G
31           Czachorowski,A
29           Shaw
28           Unger
28           Hamm, D
28           Borillo
27           Spickler
26           Beuchner

SCATS      Ranucci and Swanson each had two in the Handicapped SCATS.  In the Scratch SCATS  Bohan and Ranucci each had three.

NEXT THE VINEYARDS       MAY  5TH