Hobbling down the side of even a small hill and clearly no longer having the strength before his unexpected heart surgery not all that long ago, two time OCAGA Tour Champion and 2012 Emerald Links Monday Night League Champion, Phil Stocker is as gritty as they come. Few are as hard on their self or talk to themselves on the course as he does. You know when his frustration is reaching fever pitch when you hear, `“Philip Roy what are you doing?” It was Phil on a Myrtle Beach Trip who championed the idea of moving up to the senior tees. He argued then that golf is about having fun and we really are not what we once were from the middle tees. He has fully won over Mike O’Obrien and Art Czachorowski. They both say they are never moving back and really enjoy how competitive they are once again, playing from Gold. Scotty Shaw’s presidential approval rating shot through the roof when the league approved his multiple tee play idea during competition. Stocker fans of course are quick to comment on you know “who” really deserves a Debt of gratitude.
The OCAGA News Blog Reporter attempted to get comments from President Shaw on several occasions concerning his approval rating , including direct questions on whether or not he felt Phil Stocker had helped in improving his image. Shaw was apparently speechless, unable to say any words about Phil. 
Muffled sounds as if his mouth was full.
Always Humble Phil accepts praise on his apparent victory in Bar after the tournament.
Meanwhile, Phil Stocker was amazing winning Golden Pheasant by 6 strokes over low gross player Scotty Shaw. The greens were slow and the rough was high, clearly a result of no maintenance because of so much rain just prior to the tournament. Only the lowest two handicappers, Shaw (83) and Hamm (88) were able to break 90. Lazarchick who finished 1st, and then 2nd twice the past three years, finished 3rd this year matching Phil’s gross score of 90. Stocker placed 4 pars on the Scorecard and had one of the strongest finishes to secure the win. He lost no ball that day and avoided a meltdown hole. The OCAGA News is investigating whether or not Norwegian Cruise Lines actually has a purported “Phil Stocker Putting Green” on their Caribbean Cruises.
After winning last month, John Buechner remains in the hunt finishing 4th, also pleased with the opportunity to play from the senior tees. Both he and Phil have found success with a slowed down swing, no longer feeling as if they have to kill the ball to remain in competition. Glenn Hamm after a blazing front 9, fell off the pace on the back and despite 2 Birdies could only finish in 5th place.
Shot of the Day
Getting on the hill was no easy task but Don made it happen. Considered by some to be somewhat of a showoff, Don St George not quite over the hill, hit the ball on the hill, climbed the hill using his club as a walking stick, and caught the attention of the gallery by taking the 
shot from the hill, onto the green.
TOP TEN AT THE HALFWAY POINT
96 Shaw, Scott
91 Juliano, Rob
91 Czachorowski, Art
83 Bohan, Marc
81 Lazarchick, Mike
73 Beuchner, John
66 Ranucci, Charles
65 St George, Don
56 Hamm, Glen
51 Stocker, Phil
Apparently last minute child care problems kept Marc Bohan out of the tournament and he dropped out of first place. Shaw jumped to the top spot and a second low turnout for tournaments kept Juliano and Czachorowski up high in the race for the final four. Lazarchick, after missing Pinelands, stayed in 5th overall, a little closer to the top and farther away from pack behind.
Scotty Saw pushed out the wheelbarrow collecting Big Bucks in the SCATS Competition.
NEXT BUENA VISTA AUGUST 7TH @ 11
Ocean City Amateur Golf Association 