The Polish American Tavern was thrilled when Richie Antczak showed up with Andy Swanson. Swanson’s Health Foods sponsored the Wedgwood Tournament which was set up by Andy’s contacts.  When 13 players showed up, a fivesome was allowed in the last group, rarely granted by any golf course. Andy announced a 20% discount currently available on-line. Richie praised president Joe Champion for ushering in a second OCAGA Golden Age, unlike his predecessor who pledged, but did not,  Make OCAGA Great Again. He elucidated, “The pick up at three over par has sped time of play while not affecting SCATS or handicap indexes.  Allowing players to pick the tee where they feel most comfortable increases enjoyment. The 18 inch gimme rule is fair and raking footprints in traps was long overdue.” The Polish girl scouts, with dreamy eye, chanted, “He’s too cute and smart to boot!” Kazimierz and Stanislaw were watching highlights from the tournament focusing on the battle between Richie and The Doctor for 1st place.  LZ had dropped a 20 foot birdie on the 2nd hole to set the stage. He placed the low gross score 43 on the Scorecard at the turn. Richie was two off the pace, but in the money with CTP on 4.  Richie continued his commentary saying that apparently the Champions Golf Club is lobbying for Joe to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joe holds the record for most Closest to the Pin during the last three seasons, adding another on Wedgwood’s 8th.  Under Champion the competition has been incredible and there is growth again.  He explained that the first Golden Age was under the Stocker Administration when Phil saved the tour which was crumbling from disaffection and exodus. 

On the day of the tournament the Hofbräuhaus was packed. John Larson was in first place on the tour.  Christian Moerlein was on tap, the first beer brewed in America to pass the Reinheitsgebot German Beer Purity Law. It was on special honoring Ernie Schuck. Friedrich bet heavily on John to win and Ernie to make the top five at their “neighborhood” Wedgwood. He cheered the loudest when John made par on the first hole and Ernie finished the front only one stroke out of the lead.   

Next door the Italian Bistro was equally loud when Dave Kissinger lofted a beauty out of the sand and sunk the putt for a Sandy Par! Dave made a comment about how nice the sand was to hit out of. The tour players found the ubiquitous opportunities. John dropped a Sandy on ten and Wayne Fleming got one on sixteen. With Wayne’s appearance on the tour, Flemington is experiencing record breaking tourism. While legendary Ed Borillo was not able to make the tournament, the Godfather was quite pleased when he saw Bob Danio’s big red truck. At the turn Bob and Dave were tied with Ernie, one stroke behind the leader, Andy Swanson.

Swanson’s Health Foods was spiking high on the stock market. Andy and Ernie Schuck were driving together, in a classic battle, thoroughly enjoying the company and competition.   On ten and eleven they captured the lead. Andy took it solo on 11, and was up by two after 13.  Ernie focused, delivering a pristine drive. He dropped a beautiful putt and cut the lead by two on 14. On 16 he sent a dart for closest to the pin. The Birdie gave him the lead and he would finish one stroke ahead of Andy with a fourth place finish. Richie had a difficult back nine start giving up 5 strokes to Andy. He was eight behind on 13. On 14 he began a charge, electrifying the Tavern.  Three pars and two bogies later he ran out of holes. He finished one behind Andy for 6th place.

Lawson and Lazarchick were again in a tight battle. Both chipped away at the strokes they were giving the rest of the field. Marc inexplicably was spraying the ball, climbing to 14 over par at the turn. Pierre was convinced that playing in a group of five was too disconcerting, not suitable for Marc’s routine, focused and deliberate. Vegas offered big odds on Marc finishing last which no one took and even money that he would make a comeback and win. They also were taking bets on LZ, John and Kissinger in a trifecta with continually decreasing odds. Dave finally caught Andy on 14 sending the Bistro into bedlam.  John and Ernie were one behind after 16. The fan excitement and the player pressure was breath taking. LZ was on fire getting to the green on the last three holes in position to close the deal, but missed all three putts.  He took third by virtue of lower handicap, tied with Ernie. On seventeen John struggled to a double bogey while Dave sunk a sweet par putt. That was the difference. John’s par on eighteen was good enough to step past LZ  but left him 1 short of Dave. The Godfather bought a round  Birra Moretti Premium and delivered a toast, sipping his sparkling Moscato D’Asti.

SCATS Lazarchick, Schuck and Swanson shared the top spot. Antczak and Kissinger took second place money. Bohan, Champion, Finger and Stocker showed.

POINTS AFTER THREE

Lazarchick, Kissinger, Swanson and MacGregor are fighting for second place with Bohan and Finger looking up at the promise land. John Larson has expanded his lead but has not yet won a tournament. While talking about how cute he is with a very gentle soul, Hedwig, with the German rooted name for Combat, was telling Freya, she has doubts about his killer instinct down the stretch. They still felt the pain of his loss to OB last season in the finals after running away with the points lead in the regular season.

67 Larson, John
59 Lazarchick, Michael
58 Kissinger, Dave
57 Swanson, Andy
56 MacGregor, Keith
45 Bohan, Marc
44 Finger, Bill Tobias
34 Champion, Joe
30 Antzcak, Rich
29 Flemming,Wayne
28 Stocker, Phil
19 Schuck, Ernie
14 O’Brien, Mike
13 Danio, Bob
9 Borillo, Ed

NEXT – The tour will be challenged by the two county courses on June 26th at 10 am Green Tree and July 10th at 11:40 Atlantis.