It was raining on the way to the golf course. The evening before, President Larson told the Secretary to message everyone with the T Time and ask for them to arrive at least one half hour earlier. Decision to play would be at the course. He wanted to avoid paying for no shows. Bill Finger had negotiated a reasonable rate $78 for seniors over 60.

The tour players were impressed with RiverWinds. It looked beautiful and in excellent condition, albeit on this day, wet with heavy moisture in the air. Those without Nordic Blood felt a chill. The tournament started on the back 9 with a formidable par five hole. Only Marc Bohan had the distance and accuracy to card a par. Indeed the other fourteen players played 28 over par, the average at double bogey. The next three holes only Sue Cummings and Bob Wescott were able to each drop one par, both on # 13. Drives did not roll with any distance in the fairways. Putts too often did not reach holes or turned away when they slowed down quickly on moist greens.

The Girl Scouts were thrilled to be following Sue and Ruthann. They were proving to be quite competitive with the men on the Tour. Sue was battling Michael Lazarchick and John Larson for low gross. She played the last four holes one over. Her handicap is the same as John’s and lower than Michael’s! LZ Birdied sixteen, even par. John Birdied seventeen, also even par. Michael’s 43 was low gross by one at the turn, to the 44 of John and Sue. Marc was another stroke back. at 45. Bob Wescott, Dave Kissinger, Keith MacGregor, Joe Champion and Bill Finger broke 50. Everybody was adjusting to the conditions and the rising temperature was bringing off jackets. Bob made a Sandy on twelve after a beautiful sand shot landed less than four feet from the cup. Dave Kissinger was Closest to the Pin on fifteen. Mark Bohan beat Lazarchick by two inched to take Closest to the Pin on seventeen, the signature hole, from an elevated tee down to an island green. In Le Petite Café Pierre explained how important were the 3 points given for CTP on the shortest par three from the White Tees. At this part of the season, every point matters towards getting into the Final Four.

The Babbity Bowser Scottish Pub was experiencing an emotional roller coaster. Keith Macgregor open the last nine holes with a triple on a difficult par five, then Birdied two of the next three holes. The Macdonald betting group had a double parley, with substantial odds, that Keith would win at least two SCATS and make the Top Five. It would be a Big Payday. Sue, Ruthann, Phil Stocker and Ed Borillo were playing the forward tees without much advantage over the “Senior Tees” and Marc Bohan was out driving them consistently from the White Tees. However, they all got enough strokes to squeeze by Marc. While he did snag another Closest to the Pin on Seven for a profit in SCATS, Sue finished one stoke lower in 10th place. The Godfather was pleased that Dave Kissinger played well enough to stay in second place overall for the season, a step closer to making the final four. He finished 8th with a lower handicap than Phil Stocker. Phil was performing putting magic energizing the Stockertown crowd. Ruthann took 7th in a tie with Ed Borillo 6th, Keith Macgregor 5th and Bob Wescott 4th. Albie and Archie in the English Pub were loudly voicing their approval in a fairly euphoric atmosphere, with an occasional quip about Ruthann not getting tie points because she has the highest handicap. In the Polish American Tavern, Kazimierz told Stanislaw that the Doctor was getting tired. Indeed, LZ lost five stroke to John Larson in the last five holes, including missing a four foot par on the final hole, to finish 3rd. With Lazarchick leading the Tour this season, Agnieszka wanted a picture of his clubs for a shrine he was finally getting. Joe and Keith photo bombed their way into the picture with twin outfits!

The Hofbräuhaus was in sheer ecstasy. Yes, they loved watching John fly by Lazarchick to secure 2nd place and climb the ladder towards the Final Four. The Big Story however, was the continual chanting The Hammer William Tiberius Finger lead by Young Elke. She was jumping on the Bar splashing Weihenstephaner , imported to honor Bill’s recognition by the National Toy Hall of Fame. Bill is a world class Artistic Woodworker. The National Children’s Toy Museum now considers Bill’s handmade Rocking Horse for his Grandson to be the epitome of beauty, durability and classic design. They were serving Obazda, a Bavarian Cheese Spread, with newly introduced jumbo “Finger Pretzels.”

The Hammer was driving with authority. Confidence grew with each passing hole. He was sending out rockets, following with fairway shots that were reaching the greens in regulation. This was the Bill Finger that knocked off Lazarchick and the other high seeds to take the Pinelands Monday League Championship a couple of years back, before they instituted partners. The Bill Finger that is now breaking into the lower 40s on Monday and Tuesday in evening leagues. He was putting for Birdie and Par and did sink four for the latter. He had tap in bogeys. He finished the first nine with double pars and the last nine with a par and four bogeys. Young Elke, studying to be a statistician, proclaimed that her hero was knocking on Final Four Door. The excitement was electric. It was joyful madness, sheer opulent jubilation pumping out into the Promenade. He would win by three strokes.

RESULTS

SCORECARD

SCATS

POINTS AFTER THE WINDS ***** It is highly unlikely that Lazarchick will not be in the Finals. Kissinger and Larson have significant number with the season drawing down to a close. Marc Bohan will not go down easily and could easily move up. Bill Finger is on the doorstep looking in. He will need a significant points, with those above faltering, to get through the door.

140 Lazarchick,Michael
125 Kissinger, Dave
122 Larson, John
119 Bohan, Marc

114 Finger, Bill
103 Champion, Joe
98 Swanson, Andy
97 Finger, Ruthann
89 MacGregor, Keith
80 Borillo, Ed
76 Cummings, Jim
64 Hannan, Eddie
61 Fleming, Wayne
51 Wescott, Bob
48 Swanson, Dan
45 Stocker, Phil
33 Middleman, Fran
31 Cummings, Sue

NEXT*****WEDGEWOOD*****Tentatively
SEPTEMBER 10th
T Time 10 am