Rookies Dominate at White Oaks

The Champion’s Club purportedly is honoring Joe Champion with their Distinguished Professional Service Award for his Creativity and Leadership of the Ocean City Amateur Golf Association. He brilliantly directed what is being called the Multi-Play Golf Tournament beautifully displayed recently at White Oaks. Allowing members and guests to play either weekends or weekdays greatly enhances the numbers in each tournament and theoretically will keep everyone in the competition farther into the season. While all the connections to the Champion family were not available at press time, we do know that Stephanie Champion has a reputation of excellence serving young people with special needs. The Champion Club amended their understanding and reporting of the OCAGA Rookie of the Year declaring that VEGUS actually delivered a Stephanie and Michael 2022 Rookies of the Year Award, a first in OCAGA History.

The OCAGA New Blog won the 2022 Pulletszer Prize for the best reporting exclusively on the OCAGA Tour. VEGUS proclaimed it The Blog as the Best Source of Information to understand speculation in the OCAGA World of Golf, adding Bet with Your Head not Your Heart.

The 2023 season appears to have attracted four new Rookies and their presence became known quickly at White Oaks. Keith MacGregor received rousing applause with an unexpected opening drive down the center of the fairway. At the new Scottish Pub, a local Babbity Bowster on the Promenade, bedlam erupted. He opened toe to toe with low handicapper LZ through the first 3 holes and sunk his first par on the fourth hole. Hamish and Duncan toasted with drafts of Tennent’s lager, on special celebrating Keith’s first day on the Tour. The nearby Polish American Tavern finally got louder when the Doctor showed his stuff on the 4th hole dropping the ball 5 feet from the cup and sinking the only Birdie the Oaks yielded to the whole field. Of course, the enthusiasm was not quite at the level reached when an earlier report in the week mentioned a possible Art Czachorowski guest appearance.

At the Italian Bistro, the Godfather was sipping his favorite limoncello, Amalfitano from the Amalfi Coast, when Bruno asked him why the Peroni Gran Riserva was on special. The response was to honor Jimmy Depiano the brightest new Rookie since former Rookie of the Year, Dave Kissinger entered the tour. Indeed, quickly it was clear that Jimmy was giving Keith a run for the money. Bruno asked if a a fully healthy Dave Kissinger and a Jimmy Depiano were as good as Little Tony and Big Charlie in their days on the tour. The Godfather raised his glass and said that while Tony and Charlie had significant talent neither could bring us home the Championship. He continued with the “Faint Glimmer of Hope” Championship Eddie Borillo delivered in his prime pointing to the shrine patrons pass at the entrance. He closed saying both Dave and Jimmy have great potential. Unfortunately, Jimmy missed his drive on 3 and struggled to a snowman, falling 4 strokes off the pace with the stroke he was already giving Keith. There was a veil of apprehension at the Bistro all through the tournament until he pulled within a stroke, chipping away 3 strokes on 12 through 14. There was an eruption of energetic attention. Keith did hold on but Jimmy ended up with more points taking closest to the pin on # 12. The Godfather had to explain to Bruno again that the shortest par three from the white tees decides which hole will be the “competition within the the competition” that just adds a little more excitement in each tournament. Bruno’s last question was about “Aw Shucks” which Giovanni said in a playful, yet scurrilous tone, about Ernie not able to keep pace with Jimmy. On the par three for points the difference was millimeters. Very patiently the Godfather explained that Ernie is on the tour because he is a long time friend of Jimmy, is a very authentic human and certainly has been a worthy opponent. He was in the battle all the way making a quartet of Dominant Rookies.

Next door at the local Hofbräuhaus patrons were excited by the play of John Larson. Stock in Larson Hot Stone Massage jumped significantly after Emerald Links. When the word got out he would be vacationing in Cape May rental property became scarce with the allure of possible autographs. John was very impressive holding off the charging Doctor for third place.

The Doctor was the only low handicapper to break the top five. He almost duplicated his Closest to the Pin Birdie on the first par 3 after sending a drive on 17 right down the center of the fairway to be the only tour player to make the green. The Tavern faithful were on their feet as a really nice 50 foot putt was tracking to the center of the cup. A chorus of groans was elicited when it stopped one revolution short. He took fourth place one stroke better than rookie Ernie Shucks.

At Le Petit Café they were in disbelief and suffered through Marc Bohan’s snowmen on the first and last par 5. Pierre was close to tears as an otherwise poetic display ended with their hero in 6th place. They complained that the fairways were far from pristine, but acknowledged the greens were fast, true and tricky.

Mike Deckard and Stephanie Champion in the low handicapper group, finished 7th and 8th. They are being compared to superstars Andy Swanson and Nancy Marrow. Mike can deliver powerful drives and is at times a gambler. Stephanie exudes brilliance, beauty and grace. All of course are being talked about in the Power Couples of the World discussions. Andy and Nancy missed the tournament because of commitments to help the Cubs beat the Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Mike O’Brien was the lowest of players above 100, finishing 9th. He felt the challenge of tight fairways and the distance of some holes. He played well enough to hold first place on the Tour. Dave Kissinger was still nursing his slightly pulled hamstring and Phil Stocker is not yet up to full strength with a weak shoulder from his offseason fall. They were 10th and 11th. Joe Champion found a way to miss virtually every club in his bag, enduring his worst ever Tour outing.

40 O’Brien, Mike
36 Champion, Stephanie
36 Lazarchick, Michael
35 Larson, John
30 Bohan, Marc
30 Kissinger, Dave
26 Depiano, Jim
25 MacGregor
22 Champion, Joe
22 Stocker, Phil
21 Borillo, Ed
19 Ernie Schuck
14 Deckard, Mike
0 Swanson, Andy
0 Mauro, Nancy

SCATS

Keith, Marc and LZ each took 3. Stephanie, Jimmy and OB shared the remainder of the pot with 2 each.

The next Tournament is scheduled for Pinelands on Wednesday June 28th starting at 10:27. Please confirm that you can make the tournament. If you need to schedule another day to play with a member, let Secretary Lazarchick make you a tee time. What days and preferred times do you need? The later the decision, the less options that are available.

The Rules committee decided to allow those who have not yet played McCullough’s Emerald Links, to still make arrangements to play and get points towards the total for the season. Normally, players must play the week before or after the scheduled tournament. Once again we have an example of Joe Champion’s Leadership. He is rivaling the approval rating of the Stocker Administration, considered the greatest in modern OCAGA history.

SCORECARD

RESULTS