There were droplets of water in the air, not quite rain, as if it the sky wanted to shower, but could not. It was almost surreal as if something out of the ordinary was about to manifest.  Dave Kissinger sent his first drive out with a sharp hook and eventually opened with an all too familiar seven at Avalon.  The Doctor and Phil Stocker dropped par. The President left his par putt short, feeling robbed, immediately remarking about the slowness of the green. Dave was playing with the three individuals that appeared to have locked up a trip to the final four. He just wanted to not embarrass himself. He let go of a monster drive on two with a slight draw down the left side of the fairway eliciting the sweet, “Nice Drive Dave.” Dropping par with a decent approach and putt, felt good. On three he settled for a bogey with LZ and Rob watching Phil land a closest to the pin shot and take Par.  As the front unfolded, he was in the game. Rather than battle with Phil Stocker who struggled through some big numbers or getting every possible bad break with putts like Rob, Dave was challenging low handicapper LZ for low score on the front. He took a giant step against all the field with a par on the 6th hole, the first hole he would win outright won. By placing a 44 on the Scorecard, head to head, his was a stroke behind the Doctor and club champion Andy Swanson and just three off Marc Bohan’s blistering pace.

Bruno was serving a very pleased Godfather at the Italian Bistro. He knew the Maternal Italian heritage that placed Kissinger squarely in the Tavern’s fan base. When Little Tony died of a Heart Attack he took his ability from the growing Italian powerbase. Big Charlie was always a threat and made the finals only to fall short, often to the dreaded Polish contingent. With Czachorowski finally showing some weakness in his advancing age, Scotty Shaw leaving in Protest, Rich Antczak spending more time at his estate in Arizona as the hottest item on the Girl Scout speaking tour, the Doctor advancing not quite the threat of years gone by, well ! Charlie’s retirement was another blow to the Godfather. The emergence of Rob Juliano as a competitor who finally did bring home the Champion Title was as sweet as his finest imported Lemoncello. With Rob running away with the regular season points, leading the Tour as President in a rebirth out of a morbid and desolate darkness, the emergence of Dave Kissinger was just plain extra Gravy  on his pasta!

Patrons were glued to the giant ostentatious screen artfully imbedded in a living green wall on the newly renovated eating patio of the Bistro.  They could see the imperfections of a track, worn down by seasonal heat waves and the trampling hordes of summer golfing visitors. They watched putts navigate on fluffy greens favoring those willing to be aggressive with strokes powered to the back of the hole, eliminating those infuriating slight turns possible with attempts of finesse on such slow surfaces. They were amazed at how often drives down the middle of the fairways found bald spots, unfilled holes and waste hardpan. The gorgeous onsite roving reporter interviewed players blaming poor conditions on elevated scores. Dave Kissinger was all too experienced with frustration of extra strokes, but not on this day. Errant drives right and left were not so ubiquitous and his natural power was yielding nice positions off the tee. Fairway strokes were quite adequate. Pitching and chipping was remarkably clean. Instead of just missing putts from all distances, a better than average number fell ever so delightfully into the hole.

Dave took 10 cleanly from his foursome and dropped the ball closest to the hole on 11. Head to head, he was a stroke behind Marc Bohan and Andy Swanson, the two who everyone predicted would be battling for the coveted 4^th seat on the final four! He took the lead against Juliano and Lazarchick and they would not catch him again!

It was a battle of Titans for low gross score nearing the end of the season when everyone is primed. Marc Bohan the pride of Le Petite Café, lowest handicapper on the tour and current Tour Champion Andy Swanson on a quest to defend his title were in a classic struggle with Dave Kissinger, until this day,  not quite living up to the Rookie of Year Title her took the year he entered the Tour. With each passing hole, it became clear Marc wound not win the tournament. He was giving Dave 11 strokes. Andy giving 4 strokes, was fighting to keep a stroke or two ahead. Fans were on the edge of their seats fearing that high handicapper blow up hole? Dave’s confidence was growing. It actually felt like he had finally mastered his game. On seventeen, he dropped his second dart closest to the hole and took a tap in par. The Italian Bistro fans flew to their feet in delirious jubilation. When Marc and Andy matched him, he was even with Bohan and a stroke behind Andy for low gross. The gallery was cheering when he strolled down the final fairway making precision shots and sinking the putt that tied Andy and kept pace with Marc, for a low 84 on the day. Kissinger was clearly the King of Avalon!

Points with ONE TO GO

POINTS Tour Player

• 144        Juliano, Rob
• 117        Lazarchick, Mike
• 115        Stocker, Phil
• 113        Swanson, Andy
• 105        Bohan, Marc
• 105        Czachorowski, Art
• 91           Kissinger, Dave
• 76           Gahr, Tom

Ron Juliano has secured a first place finish for the regular season. The Doctor, Phil Stocker and Andy Swanson are sitting high in Cat Bird Seats, needing only to avoid a total meltdown to make it to the finals. Because Art Czachorowski said he will not play at Twisted Dune, last place will yield 14 points.  For LZ, that translates into a final 131. A first place finish by Marc Bohan currently in 5^th yields 130, not enough to overtake LZ, without the additional 3 points for closest to the pin.  If Phil or Andy finish last however, they are in striking distance with a Bohan Victory.  If Marc finishes 2^nd the best he can do is tie a last place finishing Andy. The closest to the pin is a huge wildcard. Marc is certainly capable of making that kind of Magic.  With Tom Gahr and Dave Kissinger winning the last two tournaments, Lazarchick , Swanson and Stocker could be battling each other to stay out of the cellar. Can Marc Bohan return to a sub 80 performance? These are very strange times!

Dave Kissinger gobbled up the SCATS

NEXT  SUNDAY –  20^th    TWISTED DUNE