It was warm, but overcast with a gentle breeze, actually a very pleasant day for golf. It was the first time OCAGA would play Pitman. We heard a “new” groundskeeper put down fertilizer. The normally pristine greens showed burn marks. For some the visual made putting more difficult and the speed of the ball did seem to change. In the Irish Pub OB was telling the young people that Jim Cummings was on the tract where he learned to play golf, describes it as a target course, clearly easier with local knowledge. OB continued, if you are ever with him on the 15th hole, he will show you exactly from where he hit his double eagle in 2005. Also known as an albatross or three under par, they are very rare, maybe a few hundred a year within all golf played. At that time he was competing in the men’s association league. A significant number surrounded OB. They saw Jim announce he was playing from the white tees because the course was so short. OB pointed out how the Secretary looked at President Larson who gave a slight affirmative nod of the head. Then LZ proceeded to tell everybody, all would play from the white tees. In the Hofbräuhaus Young Elke was praising John Larson’s innovative Presidency. When no one hit the 185 yard first par three however, OB chuckled and remarked they may be having second thoughts.
Andy Swanson always plays the white tees. He was comfortable and found the course very manageable. He immediately grabbed attention and significant swoons from the girl scouts. With mostly bogeys and three pars he placed a low gross 42 on the front nine. Swanson Wellness Products spiked continually on the stock market.
The “Haus,” now considered the strongest establishment on the Promenade, was jumping with delight. Young Elke describes John as gentle and sweet, William Tiberius as strong willed and powerful, Ruthann as Chic and Coquettish, and Fran Middleman as very kind and respectful. Both Fingers were in early contention keeping up with John Larson. Fran Middleman has quickly become a fan favorite, eliciting sincere joy from fans with good swings and an equal amount of empathetic frustration when he is not quite on target. Every time Bill sent out a rocket, in unison the crowd chanted, The Hammer! Ruthann was quick to siphon off a significant numbers of scouts from Andy.
The Leaderboard showed Dave Kissinger, Jim Cummings and Michael Lazarchick also on John Larson’s heals. The Broadcasters talked about John not being as dominant as he was in 2024. With the higher handicap, Dave had a slight lead moving towards the turn. Lazarchick’s birdie on five was sweet. With a beautiful swing Jim Cumming took closest to the pin on number eight.
Albie and Archie in the English Pub were disgruntled at the White Tee decision, Their discussion was about how competitive this season Bob Wescott has been from the Senior Tees. They were very loudly voicing complaints in a fairly somber atmosphere. The crowd was in agreement that he’s as old as Lazarchick, normally just as straight, but does not quite have the same distance off the tee. All but the last par five and all the long par fours were problematic. With considerably higher handicaps and less loss of muscle mass, Eddie Hannan, Dan Swanson and Fran Middleman all beat him in net score. They finished 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Barmaid Olivia interrupted the Al and Arch complaining, in a chastising misogyny suggesting tone. She said Ruthann who is playing great, has a maiden name Allchin with a family crest dating back to the Anglo Saxon village of Alchorne. They sheepishly apologized and bought the bar a round of Newcastle English Brown Ale.
The crowd at the Champions Club watched Joe putt quite well on the tattered greens and while he did get Closest to the Pin on 18, he did not get “his normal” big SCATS bundle. He finished 8th. While John and Jim were fairly consistent with no big numbers, Michael and Dave had more of a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde round. On fifteen Lazarchick pounded a Monster Drive and Jim walked him over to the Double Eagle Launch Site. Perhaps inspired, LZ hit his two wood just short of the Green. Next he landed six feet from the hole with a fifty foot pitch. Yup, he drained a center cup birdie sending an energy wave throughout the Polish American Tavern. He finished 7th a stroke behind Jim Cummings and two behind John Larson.
Ruthann, Bill and Dave were in a Battle Royale down the final stretch, But, fighting for second place. When Andy took Closest to the Pin and Birdied fourteen it seemed pretty unlikely he would be caught. On the 9th Hole, Bill Finger launched a rocket down the middle, with a draw, directly towards the Cummings identified Willow Tree Target. It was a Shot of the Day taking the little brook protecting the green, out of play. While others lost water strokes, Bill was easily on in two with a short iron. The Italian Bistro and close by Haus, were equally quiet, with patrons holding their breath, on pins and needles. Empathetically playing every stroke with the tour players, with an undercurrant of guarded excitement, nervousness prevailed. Dave picked up 3 strokes on Ruthann and two strokes on Bill on fifteen and sixteen. Tensions soared! On seventeen Bill got a stroke back to take the lead. Ruthann sunk a Nasty Par coming back into a tie with Dave, both one off the pace. Fans wiggled on the edge of their seats! Bill struggled to a double finish while Ruthann and Dave dropped Bogey. They tied. It was Dave 2nd, Ruthann 3rd and Bill 4th, based on handicap.
The Scandinavian Bar patrons, emboldened by a wide selection of imported Einstok Icelandic Beer , were ballistic with joy. Bjorn stood with Beer held high and recounted Richie Antczak’s description of Andy on his way to the 2019 Championship, “Like a Hurricane building strength as it heads towards the east coast, quite the golfing force!” Other than a double on the first hole and one on the eighteenth when it was over, he played bogey golf or better. He would win by 3 Strokes with the low gross 85.
RACE TO FINAL FOUR
119 Lazarchick,Michael
112 Kissinger, Dave
106 Bohan, Marc
99 Larson, John
98 Swanson, Andy
94 Champion, Joe
89 Finger, Bill
83 Finger, Ruthann
72 MacGregor, Keith
70 Cummings, Jim
65 Borillo, Ed
56 Hannan, Eddie
54 Fleming, Wayne
48 Swanson, Dan
44 Antczak, Rich
33 Stocker, Phil
33 Middleman, Fran
20 Cummings, Sue
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WEDNESDAY *****AUGUST 20*****10:10 First T Time
ARRIVE 1/2 HOUR BEFORE T TIME
270 Eagle Point Rd, West Deptford, NJ 08086
Ocean City Amateur Golf Association 