Known for gusting winds most days of the year, everyone felt the air upon arrival at Emerald Links. Glenn Hamm commented how beautiful it was a week earlier, the original posted date of the tournament. When president Rob Juliano discovered the misinformation when he called the course, the actual scheduled date of the tournament became problematic for many of the busy tour professional. On this day, half the tour was not available to compete.

The first hole was daunting for most. Marc Bohan who could not be found for over a month on golf courses by his loyal fans, struggled to an uncharacteristic 9. Paul Ruth delivered a snowman. Michael Lazarchick and Glenn Hamm took triple bogeys. It was the wily Bob Sweiderk, masterfully maneuvering the hazards to drop the only par to start the tournament.  On two, Bohan, Czachorowski, Lazarchick, Hamm and  Ruth placed pars on the Scorecard, while Sweiderk suffered the triple bogey. Yes, it was going to be a challenging day.

Many beautiful approach shots fell short or flew the greens when the actual direction of the wind played havoc. Getting to the green lead many on circuitous paths, but beautifully manicured greens allowed putting excellence to shave off strokes. Glenn Hamm saved both par and bogey from significant distances. Sweiderk’s putt on 6 gave him the only par. Juliano’s on 7 gave him the only par. But Lazarchick’s birdie on 8, the 2^nd hardest evaluated hole,  gave him the low gross for the front 9 (42).

Considering handicaps, at the turn, 5 time Champion Art Czachorowski had a one stroke lead over 4 time Champion Glenn Hamm. Bob Sweiderk was a stroke off the pace. Lazarchick and Stocker were another stroke back and Juliano and Ruth, yet another. Only Marc Bohan was well off the pace, a full 13 strokes out, rusty from inactivity and according to Jacque at Le Petite Café, a “victim of the president’s crazy handicap system.”

When Marc opened the back with another 9 his frustration was quite apparent. Art extended his lead over Hamm by 1, but would drop both those strokes for a tie on 11 and Bob Sweiderk joined them as a co-leader. High handicappers Paul Ruth and Phil Stocker, played a cat and mouse battle, switching their personal lead, ending up tied at 18. On a day when snowman were rearing ugly heads, Rob Juliano took his on 12.  On 13, Czach’s snowman relinquished the lead. Sweiderk and Ruth were battling, Paul with Birdie on 13 and Bob with the only par. Then, when Sweiderk cashed in his snowman on 14, and Hamm took a double, both Ruth and Stocker clearly entered the picture. Just outside the door, Rob Juliano and the Doctor were slowly and methodically moving forward. The gallery was on their feet watching every swing. It was becoming one of the most dramatic finishes in OCAGA history. Excitement was festering. No one could remmeber a time when so many were so close, in contention right down to the finishing hole.

Art Czachorowski took himself out of the running with a devastating 9 on 17. After Ruth let Stocker go ahead him on 15, his 6 and Phil’s 7 on 17, ended their run to the top spot.  Sweiderk opened the door with a 7 on 17. Glenn Hamm would be ever so close, until he finished with a 7 on 18. Rob Juliano played the final 4 holes using 17 strokes, a most impressive race to the finish. Lazarchick did it with 18 strokes, just enough to secure the victory.

Lazarchick’s Cafe in Minersville Pennsylvania was rocking as they watched Michael down the homestretch.

Early Season Points –  Bob Sweiderk Rises to the Top

SCATS : Bob Sweiderk was the Big Winner  with a $34 Haul with Rob Juiano takeing the second largest share at $20.

Next        Shore Gate  June 23rd