BY PETE DAVIS
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – Thursday, Aug. 22, felt like a beautiful September day come early to the Jersey shore. With only two weeks left in the regular season of the Ocean City Thursday Senior Golf League, it was also what the PGA pros refer to as “moving day.”
Curiously only three players of the top 10 in each division were able to add valuable points to their season-long total. Equally confounding was the fact that after recording 21 birdies as a league last week, this week’s tally sat at a rather pedestrian 8 birdies. We also have a season long closest to the pin contest for the four par-3 holes. Look for that recap after our match review.
While we had several very tight matches this week, I like Tony D’Ottavio (26) vs. Paul Sullivan (27) as the most exciting. They both provided hot stretches, birdies, blood on 17 holes and a comeback which fell just short. Paul was hot early, parring holes one through three, while Tony won five holes in a six-hole stretch on the back nine. Tony birdied the par-5 10th hole while Paul birdied the par-4 16th hole. Paul scored a net 66 while Tony posted a net 64. Match play holes fell in favor of Tony 9-8, as Paul’s rally on the 18th just missed. 4 points to Tony.
Also in B Flight Mike Janel (33) just edged out Tom Szkaradnik (36). Mike held a one-stroke advantage at the turn which he was able to maintain across the back nine. Mike also eked by in match play by a margin of 7-6. Looks like Mike’s ability to record more pars proved to be the difference. 4 points to Mike.
B Flight leader Rick Schultz (27) topped Garth Moyle (28) and added 4 more points to his big lead. Garth settled down after the front nine and closed with a 45 on the back. Maybe Garth finds some momentum there as he is still in the running for a playoff spot. He needs a win in the last week and some help, but it’s possible.
Dominic Scalfaro (28) shook off the rust and defeated Joe Sheridan (35) despite forfeiting seven handicap shots. Dominic is in a tie for the last B Flight playoff spot. Joe Szkaradnik (34) kept his playoff hopes from extinguishing by overcoming Mike Collins (34). Mike, however, appears to be safely inside the cut line. Mike Coffman came up empty in a match of cards for his match, but he is very safe for the playoffs.
Over in A Flight, Ben Fong (24) went up against the favored Phil Gaffney (18). Phil led by three strokes at the turn based on edging Ben on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes. Ben continued to hang tough on the back nine and he finished with a net 67 versus Phil’s net 68. Match play holes fell to Phil by a 7-6 margin. While Phil “out-parred” Ben, Ben made tremendous use of his handicap shots as he won 4 tied holes with his bonus shots. How many of us receive shots in a match and fritter them away on the tee box? Not Ben. 2 points each to Phil and Ben.
Ron Venturi (22) and Drew Klein (21) were in a real nail-biter. They turned to the tenth tee tied in strokes and match play holes. After 18 holes they finished in a dead tie with 90 gross each. But the handicap stroke fell to Ron. Match play tied at 7-7 as well. 3 points to Ron, 1 point to Drew. Ron is still in touch with the playoffs with a possible win next week.
Jay Ammon (21) and Jim Hoagland (21) went out in group one. (Speedy players!). Jay also got off to a quick start shooting a 49 to Jim’s 54 and securing a 4 -hole lead in match play. This lead held up to the end as both players shot admirable 44’s on the back. Jay birdied the 12th hole for good measure. 4 points to Jay as he secured a play -off position.
Harry O’Neill (24) and Sam MacDonald (25) also played a very competitive match. Sam led at the turn but Harry compensated with a fine back nine highlighted by a birdie on the par-3 11th hole. Harry edged Sam by two strokes net and won the match play by a score of 7-6. 4 points to Harry.
The cooler weather enticed Mike Dumsha (22), our winter commissioner, to return to the fold and he went up against Pete McInerney (19). Mike shot a net 72 and he won all three handicap holes to provide the match play margin of 8-5. 4 points to Mike.
Jack Mahon (19) Shot a net 68, buoyed by a birdie on the second hole, in his effort to overcome the favored Frank Mancini (14). 4 points to Jack. Bob Pierce (18) topped Mike Bogdash for 4 points by shooting a net 69 and winning 5 match play holes on the back nine. Jim Soukup (20) won 4 points from Joe Dempsey (18). Jim birdied the 12th hole. Russ Forrest (25) defeated Ron Gibson (23) by shooting a net 66. 4 points to Russ. Ed Lyons, in a match of cards earned 3 points.
Our season long closest to the pin contest is never a sure thing. At this late stage our leaders are:
Third hole, Joe McDermott, 4’4”
Eighth hole, Frank Mancini, 6’10”
11th hole, Ben Fong, 3’8”
15th hole, Bob Quinn, 2’2”
A FLIGHT POINTS
Phil Gaffney 35
Glenn Giveans 33
Mike Bogdash 28
Guy Hackney 28
Jay Ammon 28
Frank Mancini 27
Jack Mahon 26
Pete McInerney 25
B Flight
Rick Schultz 42
Mike Janel 32
Mike Coffman 28
Tony D’Ottavio 25
Paul Sullivan 24
Mike Collins 24
Tom Gahr 21
Tom Szkaradnik 21
Dom Scalfaro 21
