It was a beautiful, fairly warm opening day on the tour with only a slight breeze requiring some adjustment. Le Petite Café was jam packed in anticipation of seeing Marc Bohan play in the new OCAGA season. Pierre invited JoJo Gougounne Savard the renowned French Canadian Psychic, famous initially for Jojo’s Psychic Alliance and more recently in the United States, as host of the Power of Love Hotline. She facilitated a pre-tournament group guided meditation, so patrons could send collective positive energy and love to their hero. After winning back to back titles in 21 and 22, Marc has been less than auspicious on opening day the last two seasons and he fell short of making the playoffs. JoJo’s reputation soared continually as the tournament unfolded! Marc placed a sweet 42 on the front nine scorecard quickly knocking off the strokes he was giving the competition. Oohs and Aahs radiated out onto the promenade with Marc’s poetic expression of golf, fluid, magnificent swings. He caught Dave Kissinger on hole nine and took the lead on hole eleven.

For others the rough was tough, the greens were tricky. Double and triple bogeys abounded. Angus and Fergus were fighting back tears in the Scottish Pub, Babbity Bowser. Last season’s Pinelands winner, Keith MacGregor exuded considerable rust, sailing over 100. Current Champion John Larson, whose Hole in One picture from a month ago on hole two, now hangs in the Hoffbrauhaus, struggled to a stroke short of 100. Lazarchick, Hannan, Fleming, Champion, and Finger all posted net 78, 10 strokes higher than the winning net 68. In the “Haus,” when Heinrich complained that William Tiberous finished behind the others, Wolfgang explained, higher handicaps equalize the playing field, but the lower handicap is the tie breaker when the net score is the same. Over half of the tour players would not break 100. Dan Swanson, Ed Borillo and Keith MacGregor were all vying for high score. In the Italian Bistro the Godfather explained to Bruno, Ed’s highest score would have returned a SCAT, if he had not already earned one with low score on fifteen. Every player showed glimpses of good things to come, Hammer Rockets, Larson Power Fades, but frustration ruled the day. Precision putts were surrounded by fly-byes and too-soft turns and stops.

Nurse Smith was acting girl scout troop leader for the day and did let them know that Mike O’Brien, Phil Stocker and Bob Wescott were struggling with health issues. The trio were late cancellations. She explained how advancing age has added challenge to the players. And sure enough, James Taylor’s left hip went out on a drive, preventing him from finishing the round. The girl scouts not wanting to deal with such issues started to chant “Richie, Richie, he’s too cute,” knowing that Antzcak’s golf clubs already reached the Polish American Tavern and his return from Arizona was imminent.

The Tavern sits between the Italian Bistro and the Irish Pub on the Promenade. The crowds within are equally boisterous when their heroes make nice shots. With the passing of Art Czachorowski, Michael Lazarchick, aka The Doctor, is their current favorite son. Monikered LZ by Phil Stocker, he is the current Senior Champion at Pinelands with his own parking spot. After a nice opening bogey of the tough number one hole, he took Closest to the Pin on number two, eliciting rousing cheers. But at the turn he was only a stroke better than Dave Kissinger and one behind Jim Cummings. Jim ignited the Irish Pub hitting number ten in 2 and dropping the bird in the dead center of the cup. LZ would drop his own birdie on number 14.

On the back Marc Bohan just pulled away from Dave Kissinger in a steady march to a six stroke victory. The Café was tranquil embraced by a knowing feeling of certainty. Pierre had a great selection of Canadian wine imported from the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate. The toasting started early. At the Bistro the Godfather was sipping Cynar, an Italian bitter liqueur that is made from an infusion of artichoke leaves and 13 other herbs and plants. It’s known for its bittersweet flavor. He was pleased watching Dave Kissinger hold onto his second place position. Jim Cummings and Michael Lazarchick were formidable competitors. Dave did not have a blow up hole and the thick rough stopped both Jim and LZ from shaving off enough strokes. Jim edged out a third place finish. Michael took fourth and Eddie Hannan finished fifth by virtue of handicap tie breakers, making an early bid for Rookie of the Year. Fan Favorites Joe Champion and Wayne Flemming were one stoke off making the top five, feeling the pain of those close putts that just would not drop.

RESULTS

SCORECARD

SCATS

In the Polish American Tavern Agnieszka, the high school math teacher, was explaining numbers to Stanislaw. She told him the Doctor was the big winner of SCATS, sinking a par on number 2, a Birdie on 14, and hitting two Closest to the Pin. Marc Bohan, Jim Cummings and Eddie Hannan each had two. Eddie had a Closest to the Pin and low score with handicap on number 9. Jim Cummings shared Closest to the Pin on 16 with Bill Finger and sunk a beauty for a Birdie on 10. Marc had a Birdie on the very difficult number 6 and was the only person to sink a par on 18. Larson, Champion, Finger and Borillo each had one. Stanislaw’s attention span faded before she finished.

NEXT: BUENA VISTA

THURSDAY MAY 22

TEE TIME 9:42