The Godfather was pleased. He was enjoying his after dinner, Amaro Fernet Branca. It never tasted better. He had been on the edge of his seat watching Big Charlie battle the Polack Lazarchick at Emerald Links. Finally, he thought, the season is getting on track.
Charlie and Mike started with Bogey on the Scorecard. On two Charlie nailed the shot taking closest to the pin and just missed the Birdie. Lazarchick hit it fat off the tee and settled for a 4. The advantage held until four. Charlie took a bogey and Mike dropped a beautiful putt for par, all even. They both dropped par on five. Lazarchick drove a beauty down the right side on six, but it hit the top of the bunker and spun back. Not enough loft on the second shot gave him another bunker shot, followed by a shot just over the ditch into the high rough. The rough was tough. The ensuing 7 was disappointing. Charlie was beautiful all the way to the green and suck a nice Birdie for a 3 stroke lead. Hot putting by Mike allowed him to shave off 2 strokes at the turn, down 1 starting the back.
They started the back matching two straight for Bogey. On twelve, Lazarchick sent a booming drive over the 150 post but it was slicing big time. He would not find his ball. He played his next shot to the rough and struggled to his second 7 on the day. Charlie fought hard, missed the putt, but gained another stroke tapping in 6. Charlie extended the lead with his second closest to pin on thirteen. He missed the Birdie but LZ missed the par. On fourteen, Charlie drove the fairway with a beauty. Mike sent a monster drive down the right side that looked at least two yards left of the woods. He figured it would bounce right and might even make the fairway and it was out there! He never found his ball. Both played well to the green. Charlie dropped 5 to Mike’s 6 and took the biggest lead on the day, 4 strokes. The Godfather was ecstatic! He told Bruno to buy a round for all the patrons at the Italian Bistro. He was sure Charlie would not drop 4 strokes in 4 holes. LZ and Charlie played safe on fifteen with shots down the middle. LZ however, nailed the pin for a 3 foot Birdie taking back a stroke on Charlie’s par. They both hit the green on sixteen, but Mike took closest to the pin. Charlie’s longer putt almost dropped. LZ hit a 12 footer center cup but an inch short. The rough played havoc on 17. Mike was able to get his third shot just in front of the green and pitched close enough to save par. Charlie was not so fortunate. With tired arms, he struggled to a snowman. The match was tied!
Charlie hit safely into the fairway and would settle for a bogey. LZ sent his first drive high and slightly left out of sight. He blasted a provisional down the center of the fairway. He never found the first ball. His next shot rolled to the back of the green and the ensuing putt was not far enough. They finished 1, 2 for the tournament, Charlie posting the low gross score (83) on the day.
While Ranucci and Lazarchick were battling for low gross, Former Champion Eddie Borillo was trying to win the tournament. He dropped par on 3, 4 & 5, before stumbling to a 9 & 8 on seven and eight. After a 7 on ten, Edddie settled down to a better pace. With 3 more dropped for par on the back he finished in third place, (94 – net 69), now in striking distance of the top four. Andy Swanson and David Hamm continued their march towards the final four taking 4th and 5th on the day. Overall David is tied for 3rd and Andy is a couple of points back in 5th.
TOP 10 AT Mid Season
73 Unger,Mike
72 Hamm, Glenn
69 Lazarchick, Mike
69 Hamm, David
66 Swanson, Andy
62 Shaw, Scott
56 Borillo, Ed
54 Czachorowski, A
51 Ranucci, Charlie
48 Chabotar, Glenn
In the SCATS competition Ranucci and Lazarchick took the Lion’s Share with $46 and $35 respectively added to their totals.
Next: GOLDEN PHEASANT
Ocean City Amateur Golf Association 