The swing was pristine. The accuracy was impeccable. At Le Petit Café they sipped Arterra, Epoca 2018 imported from the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, rated 93 out of 100. The “oohhs and aahhs” were elegant and refined, as the patrons watched their Champion deliver one of the best rounds of golf in OCAGA tour history. While the league leaders were struggling to place scores in the low nineties on the Scorecard, Marc Bohan was marching to a sub 80 posting. Jeff Spickler carrying a relatively hefty handicap lost with a bogey on 18 for a second place finish. The Hofbräuhaus fans were sending waves of cheers out onto the promenade. Jeff’s return to the tour rekindled hope stirring a much needed ebullience. He was so very close to a Win! Then in the Monday Makeup Tournament on the 11th, Mike Deckard actually posted a net 69, after breaking 90. While not the official winner, of course the Hofbräuhaus fans believing German American Heritage, were happy with the first place points, but not an Official Win. They posted a sign on their door, WE KNOW WHO REALLY WON BUENA. Back to the official tournament, Chuck Cole, the highest handicapper on the tour, played 7 over in the last three holes to slip back at the end to 3rd place. Current league point leader Joe Champion, was 2nd on the day with a gross 92, played 4 over par the last four holes, settling for a 4th place finish. Marc Bohan won Buena Vista sinking clutch pars on the last 3 holes.

Just outside on the Promenade, the very young women were protesting the Girl Scout Supreme Court overturning of Row vs Weigh, the long standing statue allowing them to wear less conservative uniforms. When the vivacious Nancy Mauro did not show up for the tournament with her arm candy Andy Swanson, a rumor sent a small group of Scouts to the beaches at the shore in hopes of an autograph and a glimpse of the design of her bathing attire. Her appearance at Greentree and top finish among the women generated incredible excitement and eventually prompted a formal statement from the pack that the men on the tour were probably afraid she would be far too competitive if allowed to play from the forward tees. Meanwhile, signs implored President Joe Champion to issue an Executive Order allowing the Scouts to dress anyway they pleased while in the OCAGA gallery during Tournaments. Within Le Petit Café Francois and Sigourney were discussing the diametrically opposed fringes battling obsessively over the years, one side touting an unfair tantalization of male libido verses the other side, “My Body, My Choice” proponents, who argued that regardless of uniform design, males do not get to touch without permission! Even before the tournament concluded all the patrons were reveling with the realization that a dramatic powershift seemed apparent since the end of the 2021 Season. Marc took a giant step towards defending his title and the Champion contingent were obviously a force coming into their own. Fran and Sig felt pleasure having researched the origin of the name coming from the Old French “champiun”, Old Norman French “campiun”, and Anglo-Norman French “campion.” Joe was currently leading the league in points and Stephanie was consistently out driving the old men off the Gold Tees and clearly displays the epitome of inspirational femininity. When Francois described Marc Bohan as poetry in motion, Sigourney quickly retorted that Stephanie Champion is the perfect balance of power, elegance and grace.

After his dramatic victory, Marc Bohan vaulted into 4th place in the regular season standings. While he has not won a tournament Joe Champion is the current point leader with finishes all in the top five. The other tournament winners, Stocker and Lazarchick currently hold 2nd and 3rd place. Chuck Cole has played well enough to have a firm 5th place standing. Leading the pack of those looking up, some with makeup tournaments still to be played, legendary Art Czachorowski is certainly in striking distance along with Rookie sensation Mike Deckard.

• 71 Champion, Joe
• 61 Stocker, Phil
• 56 Lazarchick, Michael
• 55 Bohan, Marc
• 53 Cole, Chuck
• 49 Kissinger, Dave
• 46 Deckard, Mike
• 45 O’Brien, Mike
• 40 Czachorowski, Art
• 34 Spickler, Jeff
• 33 Swanson, Andy
• 33 Borillo, Ed
• 31 Champion, Stephanie
• 24 Danio, Bob
• 10 Antzcak,Rich

At the Italian Bistro, the Godfather was explaining the new OCAGA format to Bruno. Under the new relaxed rules in the Champion Administration, once a tournament has been played the standings become final. Those who play before the official tournament can submit results to the Secretary, a photo of the scorecard is acceptable. They will be in the official tournament standings. Anyone playing a makeup tournament after the official date, can still get points but will be listed as a tie, based upon where they finish in relationship to the other players. Bruno was very confused but asked why the Italian Bomber, Rob Juliano, no longer plays. Bruno knew the Godfather felt Rob was the greatest OCAGA President since the late Little Tony Sickler. The retirement of Big Charlie Ranucci was also a blow. This season, the aging Fast Eddie Borillo no longer has the distance of his championship year and Dave Kissinger, like Rob, is back to working full time. At least Dave, without the luxury of practice rounds, has been able to play makeup tournaments on Mondays and is very respectable in the standings.

Vegas released the SCATS results. It was a banner day for Marc Bohan who either won or or tied just about everybody, almost everywhere! Only Jeff Spickler, Mike O’Brien and Chuck Cole were able to share a relatively small share of the winnings.

At the Polish American Tavern Stanislaw and Casimir were reminiscing the Trick Shot Art Czachorowski displayed at the October 2001 Tournament as reported in the OCAGA Electronic Newsletter. They were not happy that Art was no longer scheduling the Tournaments and questioned why Lazarchick seemed to have so much power all of a sudden and control of the treasury? Now that several tournament were in the books, they began to speculate if Joe Champion was going to write a president’s message in the Blog. Apparently there was a rumor that the Investigative Reporter is looking into the new administration after purportedly receiving anonymous message: Is it a coincidence that the new President is in first place, a boyhood friend of Lazarchick’s Brother in Law Chuck Cole, who is in 5th place? Is it a coincidence the Phil Stocker is in 2nd place, known to be a close friend of 3rd place Lazarchick since they won the 2012 Monday Night Championship together at Emerald Links? Look to further editions of the OCAGA BLOG for the answers!!!!!

At the Promenade Information booth they were announcing the John Buechner and Val Fransel Memorial Tournament coming next at Atlantis, where Val and john played for decades, every Saturday morning. Guests included Frank O’Hearn, Michael Lazarchick, Little Tony Sickler, and the Polish Powerhouse Scotty Shaw(linski). Just tipping the scales slightly over 100, pound for pound Val was longest driver on the tour. John was the Myrtle Beach coordinator for years and served as the OCAGA Starter for the longest stint in modern history. It was not known if special prizes would be awarded for the special tournament results. Those that confirm they are playing should be posted on the OCAGA Home Page with new handicaps before TUESDAY the 19TH Tee Times 1:10 1:20 1:30