On a cool crisp October morning the final four teed off for the OCAGA Championship at Great Bay.  Michael Lazarchick, aka The Doctor or LZ, hit a decent drive, followed by a fairway wood straight down the middle just shy of the green. He putted slightly uphill close enough to sink par. Following with three bogies and another par he erased the five strokes he was giving Phil Stocker taking the lead by one, on  the 5^th hole.  He was four better than Rob Juliano and Andy Swanson. He was feeling focused. He had started the day with a golf meditation, playing holes in his mind, visualizing great shots.

At the Polish American Tavern, under the huge picture of 5 time Champion Art Czachorowski, they were razing mugs of Baltic Porter Beer brought in for Championship Sunday. With Art not even in attendance, still much sadness from Scotty Shaw’s departure from the tour and Rich Antczak’s annual migration back to Arizona, LZ was their only hope for joy. At the Italian Bistro, Bruno related that patrons at the bar  were complaining about the tabulation of strokes, suggesting that President Rob Juliano was being cheated. The Godfather eased his fears saying that many eyes were on the process, including those of   Phil Stocker.  He knows every single shot of every participant and is keeping score!

On four, Rob pulled the ball deep left into the adjoining fairway and the ball could not be found. While LZ was remembering the OCAGA Rules and being sent back to the tee by Art Czachorowski in previous finals, Rob, already frustrated, was not interested in “Championship” explanations or stroke and distance. He was fuming on his journey back to the tee. Anger exuded from the bomb he sent down the middle of the fairway. At the Italian Bistro the Godfather told Bruno he was pretty sure the new  USGA rules offered Rob either going back or perhaps dropping with a two stroke penalty.

Perhaps with an “I’ll Show You attitude” it was the spark that changed the dynamics. Rob blasted drive after drive deep down the middle of the fairway, reached the greens easily in regulation, dropping par on the last five holes of the front nine. All his competitors were feeling outclasses. They shared the thought that Rob’s youth and strength were formidable when his mind was set for domination.

Andy Swanson was struggling in his attempt to defend his title, still recovering from a three week old back injury. The girl scouts announced, while still enamored with Richie, Richie, He’s Too Cute, they were sending Andy Virtual Healing Hugs.  Phil Stocker was uncharacteristically missing too many putts. Norwegian issued regrets about the COVID 19 cancelling of the Stocker Swing Cruise, which easily would have “fine tuned” his game before the finals.   After the incident with Rob, LZ had fallen off his game. He finished the front with mostly sixes, including a disastrous missed drive, chunk into the pond, followed by a week short iron and missed putt on the finishing par three. He was three strokes behind Rob at the turn, tied with Phil, justly barely ahead of Andy. Rob continued to expand his lead on 10, 11 and 12, not quit as sharp, but better than his competitors. At the Italian Bistro the Godfather was enjoying a Peroni Gran Riserva Doppio Malta Beer, pleased with Rob’s ability to Channel his Anger into Excellence.

It was looking like the Championship was over, when Rob missed the par three 13^th into the trap on the right.  LZ found the trap on the left. Phil was close enough to negotiate par and Andy was so close to the pin, he was able to easily sink the only birdie of the foursome on the day. While the Doctor made a decent sand shot that trickled 10 feet past the hole. Rob blasted out of the sand, but with enough energy to skip past the pin off the green into the trap on the other side. His second sand shot was picked clean, flew the green and did not stop until it reached the heavy out of bounds bushes.  LZ decided not to re-stoke his anger by mentioning hitting out of the Trap again.  A one stroke drop, lead to a 7, finally giving back strokes to everyone. On 14 Rob sent a bomb deep and too far right well into the tree line.  Andy delivered another pop drive, obviously the result of his body not functioning correctly. While Phil would struggle on his way to a double bogie, Michael with his best drive of the day and a magnificent 4 wood from the fairway, was sitting on the green with a legitimate birdie opportunity. He settled for a tap in par and cutting two more strokes off the Juliano lead.

At the Tavern, Stanislaw pointed out that the Doctor now appeared to be appreciating the golf course, looking at the wind direction of the leaves,  perhaps getting re-grounded and centered. Casimir retorted that it looked like the real Rob might be back, as they watched him suffer through his third straight hole of error. His drive was far down the left side just off the fairway. Lazarchick getting a 75 yard advantage off the senior tees, with a monster drive down the center of the fair, landed only a couple of yards past Rob. Rod blasted his second shot straight down the left side losing a little distance in the rough. LZ hit a solid two wood right down the middle which trickled a few yards farther than Rob.  The cheering of Rob’s power at the Bistro suddenly fell to silence. Rob, hitting behind his ball in the rough with his third shot, apparently opening the clubface, sent it straight across, another ball out of bounds. When Lazarchick delivered his ball to the green, the Tavern erupted into a rampageous, chaotic revelry. He would leave his long birdie putt just short, but the tap in par was sweet, slicing away two more strokes. Once again he had taken the lead. With a par on 16 the Doctor went up by two.  

The famous 17th hole makes or breaks many Champions. Rob hit his drive into the trees on the right and an adrenaline buffered LZ followed him, but farther in.  The Doctor’s attempt to reach the fairway got caught in the high rough and did not clear the tree line. Phil told him on the way to his championships over a decade ago, he had that shot and took it over the trees onto the green. Almost immediately he continued, “Just like that!”  Rob, with a short iron, had cleanly sent the ball up, over, and on its way. Once again the Bistro was enlivened.  

The Doctor, closer to the tree, told Phil he was incapable of lifting high enough with a club that could deliver 140 yards, but with an after thought, mentioned that slicing is almost natural. As he pulled out his trusted and comfortable 27 degree rescue wood, slightly opened the face and aimed to the left side of the fairway, the Tavern descended into a panic of dead silence and dread. The memory of the Doctor’s fist ever championship emerged clearly back into consciousness. A  huge lead dissipated down to a one stroke loss, after a devastating 9 stroke boondoggle on 17!  If this attempt went straight across, it would be quickly out of bounds. 

Lazarchick was not thinking negatively.  He took a deep calming breath and practiced a smooth swing visualizing curving the ball around the trees. He could not see his target, but Phil Stocker could. He wanted to win, executed his belief, and felt the excitement, smiling  when he heard the exclamation, “You did it, you made the green!”  The ball stopped pin high fifteen feet to the left of the flag.

Rob was not so lucky. His ball had made it all the way off the back, to a downward slope in the waste trap.  His third shot got out and on, but not closer. They each finished with bogey.

On 18, The Doctor drove the right side of the fairway, clipping a tree branch but staying in the rough with a clean shot to the green. He chose his 4 wood and managed to just get on in 2. He was fully confident and knew the match was over. With a two stroke cushion, there was little chance he could be caught. Indeed, he defeated the best the tour had to offer. Michael Lazarchick became the 2020 Tour Champion.