Hunt’s Pier in Wildwood was jam packed after an installation of the satellite fed Giant Screen TV. The excitement continued to grow as Tommy Hunt battled his way to his second OCAGA Tour Victory this season. Playing in the group with low handicapper on the day, Mike Lazarchick , Tommy felt the pressure of “fast company.” However, opening with par on the first two holes at Golden Pheasant, Hunt was sending a message! His putts gave him a chance on every hole to score well. The one on the first hole was a fourteen footer slightly downhill that hit the center of the cup! He and Lazarchick were even after 4. Tommy dropped 4 strokes on the next three holes and finished the front posting a sweet 46 on the Scorecard.

Note From the OCAGA Investigative Reporter: There were Sandbagging Catcalls from the gallery, but the truth is, no handicaps have been dropping except Lazarchick’s and only then down to his lowest last season. Tommy had two outings over 100, did win Avalon with an 87 (net 61), missed the Vineyards and won Golden Pheasant with a net 68, just a couple of strokes below his handicap. Your handicap takes the best 10 of your last 20 scores in the league. If he puts up a couple more scores under 90, you will see some downward movement.

In the foursome they were following, Charlie Ranucci suffered through a 7 on one, a quadruple 8 on three and then a double on four, not the start he wanted. Playing with Scotty Shaw, who put up 2 sevens , they both finished the front dead even with Hunt. The other low handicap threat, Glenn Hamm, playing in the first group, delivered a very nice 42, even with Lazarchick, but getting a stroke.

Scotty found par three times on the back, but an 8 on 14 put him out of the race. Glenn lost a little of the magic and could not sink a par putt on the back. After opening the back with a pair of sixes, Charlie got down to business, eventually gritting it out by Scotty and then Glenn on the eighteenth. Glenn would finish 5th and Scotty 6th. The Godfather, obviously disappointed with the start, bought a round of drinks for everyone at the Italian Bistro after Charlie took 3 points for closest to the pin on 15 and finished the day 3rd, with a final hole birdie.

Tommy Hunt was in a battle, dropping 5 strokes to Lazarchick in three holes to open the back and then another 2 on 15 and 16. He was only 1 stroke up with two to play. Lazarchick launched a Rocket on 17 directly at the pin. Tommy hit safely a hundred yards shorter and followed with a second shot 15 feet past the cup. Lazarchick was 35 yards from the pin, guarded by rough terrain. He hit a sand wedge too far and it released rolling further back on the green than Hunt. He was tricked by the long downhill putt which turned off sharply to the left when he played it turn right into the cup. Learning from the line Tommy played the putt significantly closer. Lazarchick left the par put 1 inch to the right. Tommy sunk a clutch par! The two stroke cushion was just enough on 18. Both drove the ball under the trees on the right and punched out onto the fairway. Lazarchick put the subsequent 7 iron shot 6 feet from the cup pin high and would drop par. Tommy Hunt hit the front of the green in 3 and 2 putted beautifully to take the win by one. Tommy Hunt beat the best OCAGA had to offer, very successfully Hunting the Golden Pheasant.

Meanwhile, the Godfather, a man of civility, distinction and good taste, told Bruno to put in a complaint about all the noise coming from the Polish American Tavern. Actually, there was quite a ruckus. The Artski Fiveski shrine was expanded. Lazarchick was finally added to the monument dedicated to the triumphs of Czak and Scotty Shaw. The old crew toasts Art every day as ” the Greatest to Ever Play on the OCAGA Tour.” They are clear no one will ever break his record of Five Championships. The young crowd tired of hearing the toast , over and over again, retort “Scotty Shaw, he’s our Man, Tough as Nails and a Heart that Can.” Well, it’s a Polish Bar and he has won a title. This year Scotty is playing through the pain of broken toes and other minor maladies. Despite his still growing reputation as “Dr. Second Place,” Mike Lazarchick does have a small following. With three tournaments left in the 2014 season, despite his recent second consecutive second place finish, Mike has vaulted into first place in the Race to the Final Four. Looks like he’ll get another shot at the title. In his first five attempts he finished second every time.

It was the Polish Princesses (local girl scout troop) however, who created most of the disturbing clamor. They wanted to turn off the tournament and watch heartthrob Andy Swanson and local favorite pretty boy, Rich Antzak, run in the marathon. They kept chanting, “Richie, Richie, He’s Toooo Cute!” Of course they want to replace current poster boy Swanson with their Richie, at the national level.

Points with 3 to GO
92 Lazarchick, Mike In the Driver’s Seat
89 Hamm, Glen Wants to make it 3 in a row
83 Unger, Mike Has cooled off since great Season Start
77 Shaw, Scott Needs to Heal Body
75 Ranucci, Charles Making a Serious Charge
70 Hunt, Tom Already has two this season
69 Hamm, David Can’t miss tournaments
68 Czachorowski, Art Known for strong finishes
67 Chabotar, Glen Carrying a hefty Handicap, Finished 4th at the Tough Pheasant
66 Swanson, Andy Would rather run
56 Borillo, Ed Former Champ with a Slight Glimmer of Hope
51 Stocker, Phil Would need to win all three and see falter at the top
46 Bohan, Marc Watch out next season
27 Beuchner, John Out for Season
21 O’Brien, Mike May Return from Surgery
21 Antczak, Rich Can only be a spoiler

Not one in first place with three to go has missed the final four. Lazarchick has been very impressive in the last three tournaments. Glen Hamm is the two time defending Champion and in a great place to try for three. Mike Unger still has a lot of points, but cannot afford blow-ups like the Pheasant. Charlie Ranucci has finished strong in the last two tournaments. Tommy Hunt is only 5 point out of fourth place. Both Charlie and Tommy missed a tournament this season. David Hamm, Art Czachorowski, Glen Chabotar and Andy Swanson all need to visit the winners circle. However, they are all less than 10 points from fourth place. It will be almost impossible for the others to make a run at the final four unless they WIN,WIN,WIN and probably need points for Closest to the Pin.

SCATS

Charlie Ranucci and Rob Juliano took the Big payday in the SCATS Competition. Charlie pockets a cool $45.50 and Rob was close behind with $35.50

Next the OCAGA visits Greentree for the first time on the Tour.