Arguably the Doctor is playing some of the best golf of his career, leading the Monday Evening Pinelands League by 35 points, only three strokes from the lead in the Senior Club Championship with the final round coming less than two weeks away and holding a strong 2nd place position on the OCAGA Tour. A year ago he won the Greentree Tournament with a low gross 83 from the senior tees. Vegas was not confident in his decision to move back to the regulation White Tees on a challenging track quick to punish miscues. Lazarchick however, exuding confidence, easily drove the fairways for distance with his slow methodical swing. He caught the attention of the Polish American Tavern patrons who were lamenting the decision of both Richie Antczak and Art Czachorowski to skip the tournament. After a beautiful drive on the par 6 third hole, LZ topped his two wood into the thin overgrown stream protecting the fairway, eliciting groans within the Tavern. Earlier, Joe Champion suffered through an 11, Eddie Borillo a 10, and both Marc Bohan and Stephanie Champion took a 9. But the Doctor followed with a two wood that reached the turn, got on in 6 and made the putt to save the hole.

The last foursome included three hot Rookies, Jimmy Depiano, Ernie Schuck and John Larson. Jimmy opened with an awesome drive, strong fairway wood, beautiful iron approach shot and precision Birdie putt. The Italian Bistro was energized, already excited with Eddie Borillo’s par, par opening. They vicariously suffered Ed’s back to back 10s on three and four, jumping to their feet when he dropped a Birdie on five. Dave Kissinger had a tough start but also brought in the crowd with his own Birdie on four. Bruno bet the parley that all three would make the top ten. Only Jimmy Depiano came through and just barely.

At Le Petit Café they were numb after Marc Bohan’s 3 hole, 6 over par start. Pierre announced it is a game of inches and good luck was not with their champion. Four through seventeen he displayed his usual fluid poetic golf swing, but a two over, 7, on the final hole was difficult to digest. He fell to an 8th place finish. When the OCAGA reporter asked Lazarchick how it felt to beat Marc, head to head from the white tees, posting the low gross 85, he said, “That’s Golf. Some days the driver and putter are working and you get the right bounces. It is a rare treat just to be close to Marc in score.” Below is a painting of the Café which some believe might have been created by the exceptionally talented Mia Bohan.

After the bundle of SCAT money Joe took in at the last tournament, the Champion Club bar attracted their best crowd of the season. There was a special on Virgin Cocktails to serve the needs of the girl scouts attending in mass to watch Stephanie. Their male Dreamboats, Richie and Andy, both missed the tournament because of social obligations. Unfortunately, Joe missed virtually every club and got into serious trouble early, experiencing a horror show of the many par 6 hazards on the way to his 11. Otherwise he played great and did manage a 5th place finish. Stephanie meanwhile was in a battle with Mike O’Brien. There was an Oldster Youngster Parley from the multitude of Vegas betting options, one pitting OB against both Steph and Mike Deckard. While the kids easily outdistanced the old man, keeping in the many tight fairways was the difference. Playing the last three holes 2 over par, OB incited rancorous shouts of approval within the Irish Pub, moving from two behind to two ahead. He finished sixth while Stephanie fell to seventh. It has been many years since OB has been this high in the standings this late in the season.

The Hofbräuhaus had their largest turnout in decades. It was not the addition of large screen televisions providing viewing from every possible location. John Larson was leading the tour and Jeff Spickler was very impressive returning from off season healing. Rookie Ernie Schuck had displayed moment of brilliance. This day would be no different. All three of their heroes were quickly battling for the lead. Jeff held the lead at the turn sinking 4 pars. Ernie sunk three of his own and caught Jeff with a 22 foot Birdie on 10. He went into the lead on eleven. Everybody was aware the Doctor was slowly closing in. Indeed, on a course with many obstacles, Ernie commented “He (Lazarchick) doesn’t stay in trouble long.” By 16 the Polish American Tavern air was filled with splashing droplets of Żubr Polish Lager, new on tap. The lead was up to 5. Stanislaw counted 7 pars and 2 birdies. Casimir commented on how many drives had been safely in fairways. They fully expected a par or birdie on seventeen. The white tees however were back 170 yards from the sharp left turn to the green. LZ chose his 4 wood and overswung. The ball was sliced into the edge of tree line and not far enough to take the pond out of next shot. Rather that make a safe shot into the middle of the fairway leaving a short iron to the pin, he decided to send a seven iron shot through a tight window down the left side onto the green. He clipped a tree and the ball ricocheted into woods. He could not safely navigate the trees on the next shot and bounced further into the woods. The Tavern was silent and the Hofbräuhaus was suddenly fully engaged. There was no longer a safe shot. Now Lazarchick was at survival. When he dropped the putt for a snowman, John and Ernie were now one behind and Jeff was only two. On the Giant Scoreboard Kissinger, Bohan and Deckard, the other white tee players, had finished with 7,8 and 10.

LZ took a deep breath and delivered drive down the center of eighteen. He sent a two wood down the right side within a hundred yards of the green, but blocked by an overhanging tree limb. His bump and run four iron was beautiful, just short of the green. He chipped close enough to sink the par for victory! John and Jeff tied for 2nd and Ernie was next. John’s 6’2″ dart, Closest to the Pin for points on number 4 expanded his first place regular season lead.

RACE TO THE FINAL FOUR

• 84 Larson, John
• 77 Lazarchick, Michael
• 69 O’Brien, Mike
• 66 Kissinger, Dave
• 58 Bohan, Marc
• 58 Champion, Stephanie
• 57 Depiano, Jim
• 54 Champion, Joe
• 48 Deckard, Mike
• 48 Schuck, Ernie
• 46 Borillo, Ed
• 44 Stocker, Phil
• 37 Spickler, Jeff
• 36 MacGregor, Keith
• 35 Swanson, Andy
• 17 Czachorowski, Art

SCATS Ernie Schuck was the Big winner on a day when 25 SCATS were earned, the largest number in OCAGA history. In addition to solo low score with handicap on holes and closest to the pin, SCATS were paid for low gross score, par on the number 1 handicap hole and numerous birdies.

RESULTS

SCORECARD

The Tournament at Golden Pheasant was cancelled when those confirmed to play dropped to 5. Because of the distance a multiple day tournament seemed problematic. A petition spread across the Promenade to remove the Secretary for the mishandling. President Joe Champion while fully standing behind the Secretary, is asking for a scheduling team to look at Scotland Run $$$$, The Vineyards $$$, Buena Vista $$, Centerton $ and Atlantis $ as possible venues for Wednesday August 30th. The league players will be queried about preferences and the hopefully everyone can make that date. While Joe Champion continues to have very high approval ratings, this is not the first time the competence of the Secretary has been questioned.