We suspect that Eva, the beautiful young woman driving the food and beverage cart, may have been one of the Girl Scouts infiltrating Greate Bay to watch Andy Swanson play in the OCAGA Art Czachorowski Memorial Championship of 2024. Andy lives on South Jersey’s Premier Private Championship Golf Course and conditions were indeed the best the tour has seen this season, even with the substantial improvements visibly still in development. Vegas had him as a good money bet to upset Michael Lazarchick, fresh out of winning the Pinelands Senior Club Championship and John Larson, who took the regular season point total for the second straight year.   Joe Champion attracted upset money in Vegas because of his driving distance and short hole accuracy, while setting the new record for most Closest to the Pin Money. They were a formidable quartet fighting for the title.

Six players were lined up for two threesomes as teams to play in a secondary competition. Marc Bohan, Phil Stocker and Bob Daino against Jim Cummings, Dave Kissinger and Bill Finger were match-ups generating considerable enthusiasm on the Promenade. The Godfather explained to Bruno how this format of ethnic diversity leads to better relationships in varying fan bases, reducing animosity and hate. Of course, because Bob was on one team and Dave was on the other, the Italian Bistro was guaranteed a winner. When Jim at the last minute was unable to come and Secretary Lazarchick had no backup plan, the proverbial apple cart was turned over. Three against two was problematic, especially when the lowest handicap player is the missing piece of your team.

While Marc Bohan was thrilling, displaying a cavalcade of beautiful shots, Dave and Bill were able to eke out a victory. Bob and Phil were able to get Marc significantly closer on holes with great differences in the forward tees and regulation white. Dave and Bill decided to have fun and enjoyed their share of competitive drives and saving swings.  At Le Petite Café,  Pierre  praised Marc for giving 8 strokes during the tournament to the weakened two man team, which in turn led to Phil and Bob moving up to the super senior forward tees. Nodding with appreciation,  Pierre told the crowd that his teammates were more comfortable and the opposition were given a chance to compete. Pierre emphasized how magnanimous was their hero as he chose to escalate his personal challenge. With a knowing tone he added  that Marc thrives in significant competition. Pierre pointed to the Bohan trophy wall showing not only his three OCAGA Champion Titles and numerous regular season tournament victories, but also the great number of team wins in a myriad of formats in the secondary events on Championship days. Clearly, no one will ever match his record of overall victories. He is the longest active member of a tour his father was instrumental in creating with Art Czachorowski.  Within the Café, a few men and all the women exuded tears of compassion and adulation by the end when Pierre concluded with Our Marc Bohan is a Class Act!

The Final Four started with quad sixes on One. Andy and Joe expanded their handicap lead on two while John fell a stroke behind Michael. Indeed. When LZ parred three he cut into the handicap leads, while going up two more on John. John punched back for one on four, but gave it right back on five.The tension in both the Hofbräuhaus and Polish American Tavern was growing.

All year the pair had been in classic battles. Just a day before, The Doctor had toasted the field with an average 89 in the two day Pinelands Senior Club Championship. Early in the season playing Greentree from the white tees, John dominated the field while LZ struggled with distance control. At Westwood John  finished 2nd with  a gross score 3 strokes behind his elder opponent. At Centerton however, with the tee boxes slightly more forward than usual, John easily dominated with a gross 75, ten strokes better than Michael in third place. 

While John was playing Greate Bay for the first time and in the first few holes expressed dislike of the course, Lazarchick was initially more comfortable with years of experience. Of course Andy lived on the 17th hole of his home course.  After John sunk a 10 foot beauty on six, LZ told him that often the winner was the person dropping Birdies. There was still a chill in the air as the foursome reached the “new holes” as result of the course redesign. Lazarchick felt fatigued. He was continually using his 4 wood and 2 wood to get some distance. While he was complaining to himself that he did not like to play in cold weather, he swung too fast and  missed a drive into a new basin in development on the 7th hole. From the drop zone he saved a 6 and John took another step closer. At the turn he was one stroke behind the leaders, Lazarchick tied with Swanson in net score.    

The back opened with Lazarchick regaining the lead, then watching John finally go ahead two holes later. Michael could not find a comfort zone. His last gasp was a par on fourteen. For John the memory of OB taking the 2023 title in the final holes was not yet erased. He sent the ball slightly past the par 5 fifteenth hole in two, then executed a pristine up and down for his second birdie.  Four strokes better than Andy and Joe and 2 Better than Michael, John was fully focused and in control. Greta at the Hofbräuhaus quieted the attempt at early victory cheers, but Larson Hot Stone Massage Stock price was out of control, quickly spiraling up.  Andy would edge  past LZ on seventeen into second place while John continued to forge his masterpiece. He did not lose a stroke to anyone in the last four holes. He beat the best the OCAGA Tour had to offer becoming the OCAGA 2024 Champion.

SCORECARD