Stanislaw and Casimir were listening to fellow patrons talking about Scotty Shaw, a rapidly fading memory. They remembered the significant numbers at the Polish American Tavern that embraced his pledge to “Make OCAGA Great Again” and their unfettered belief in whatever he told them especially how he was the Greatest Ever President.  But other than playing a lot of golf, Stashu and Cas were having difficulty actually finding evidence that he had done much of anything positive for the Tour. When Scotty was unable to keep up with Milt Nicholas in the final holes that secured the 2018 Championship, he was heard, so they say, blaming the legendary Art Czachorowski. As the story goes, when the ranger complained of a backup, Art said a few words to the lead group so they might become more consciousness of actions that might increase their speed of play.  Supposedly Shaw took it as a personal criticism and immediately after his loss, some felt Shaw’s words were becoming increasingly malignant, causing rife and ill will throughout the promenade. We are guessing that the incident might have influenced his exodus from the Tour. Subsequently, several others left the Tour and remaining tour players wondered if it was because of Shaw. The Investigative Reported has had difficulty gathering the facts. Information comes from many different sources and it is very difficult in this day and age to discern what is the real truth and what is illusion.  

At the Italian Bistro there was unfettered Celebration. Rob Juliano who took over the lead at Oaks without winning a tournament, vaulted to a secure seat in the Final Four by thrashing low handicappers Bohan and Lazarchick at the Vineyard.  They came out blazing hot. Rob was able to keep up with them, head to head, catching LZ by dropping Birdie on 8 and going ahead of Bohan by a stroke on the front.  He and LZ placed a 41 on the Scorecard, with Marc at 42. The surprise challengers however, were Rookie sensation Tom Gahr and the last Rookie of the Year, Dave Kissinger, also with blazing hot starts.  With Birdies on 2 and 3, Dave was beating Marc and Rob head to head in their group. Against Lazarchick, Tom was only a stroke behind through 7. Not surprising, Phil Stocker was also in the mix finishing the front just a stroke more than Gahr. Factor in handicaps and Tom was well ahead of the pack with a net 28 score after 9 with Kissinger 4 strokes back in 2^nd and Juliano another 2 back in third. The Doctor was near the back of the pack, with the very dangerous trio of Bohan, Swanson and Czachorowski threatening to overtake him. The Godfather told Bruno that this tournament highlighted the magnificence of Juliano as President and the wisdom of the Italian Handicapping System.

At the Schnitzel Haus, Günter and Wolfgang were unable to focus on their boar and other assorted game, with aged cheese meal. They were slowly lifting their mugs of Doppelbock with more confidence, holding back, the snickering, nagging trepidation. Tom Gahr held a sizable lead through 13, eliciting clear frustration from the Doctor as he matched LZ with two 3s, a Birdie and Par. Just when fans though this might be his day, Tom sent the next drive left into the woods starting a high handicapper nightmare.  Günt and Wolf felt heartbreak as they watched the 21 strokes needed to complete 14 and 15. The Doctored also stumbled on 15, slicing a booming drive directly behind a tree followed by several under clubbed attempts to reach the green and a lapse in putting, yielding a tap in 8. We were unable to confirm if QAnon conspiracy theorists included this sudden divergence by the duo, to current Trends.  What we do know is that Rob Juliano emerged as the new leader. Even with his 2^nd and 3^rd Birdie of the day on 16 and 17, and his 3^rd consecutive Tour 78, Marc Bohan could not beat Rob, now being called the Master of Consistency in 2020.

Bruno asked the Boss why he was giving the patrons mugs from the latest Birra Del Borgo keg imported from Italy. The Godfather responded that by taking an additional 3 points for Closest to the Hole and by landing the victory, Rob Juliano  was now 22 points ahead of 5^th place with two to go! To not make the finals, Rob would have to come in last twice and either Andy Swanson or March Bohan would need to finish first, twice, and get closest to the pin, twice! VEGAS will gladly take bets against those odds.

POINTS WITH TWO TO GO

• Points Player

• 112        Juliano
• 101        Stocker
• 100        Lazarchick
• 90           Czachorowski
• 87           Swanson
• 86           Bohan
• 76           Gahr
• 66           Kissinger

If Stocker and Lazarchick can stay out of the cellar in the next two outings they are probably also going to the finals. Avalon will shed light on the possibilities. In 4^th place, Art Czachorowski is vulnerable and as is usual, it looks like we are once again watching a battle for the fourth position in the finals.

Tom Gahr takes the Big Payday from the Vineyards SCATS, with Bohan and Kissinger taking acceptable second place bucks.

Next: AVALON   

Post Script: The Antczak Fall Golf Trip was a huge Success.