The Sandbagger

Over the years of Sandbagger competition, Jeff Mains has earned himself many titles. Aside from Host (multiple occasions, much appreciated), he has been called: Most Honest Golfer; Most Entertaining Golf Partner; Most Distracting Golf Partner: Most Persevering Golfer; Most Improved Golfer; Sandbagger Champion; and now, Repeat Champion.

Jeff was the only one among the dozen 2018 competitors to have played Owl’s Head and Orford and his home course knowledge, coupled with his improved play, carried him to victory for the second time in four years. In fact, Jeff (target: 111) was the only golfer to finish under par versus his target, coming in at -1, after carding rounds of 109 and 112 for the weekend.

Let’s give credit where credit is due: after recording an jaw-dropping sextuple bogey 10 on his first hole of the tournament, Jeff could have been excused for folding up his tent (metaphorically) and switching his focus to his plans for providing an excellent evening meal. Instead, he sucked it up, regained his form and went 5, 5 on his next took holes, before stumbling to a quadruple bogey 9 on the fourth hole. But, he showed impressive fortitude and persevered mightily, giving us all something to draw upon when next (and inevitably) we find ourselves faltering. Though Jeff went 57-55 on Sunday, giving up just one stroke to his target, he made things interesting at the end by closing with a triple and a quadruple at Orford, giving a glimmer of hope to his chasers.

Finishing a commendable second in the tournament was Mike Maidment (target: 87), whose 93 at Orford on Sunday put him at a disappointing +6 for the day, moving him to +3 for the tournament. Mike was good in his final round, though not as solid as he was on Saturday and not sharp enough to overtake Jeff. For the day, Mike went 47-46, carding 3 pars, 10 bogeys, 4 doubles and one triple bogey. Unfortunately (for Mike, at least), a double bogey on #17 effectively sunk his hopes. There’s no shame in finishing second, but the fans would have appreciated more drama and Mike’s (ahem) choke on 17 left them in their seats.

Greg Hodgins came into the final round in 3rd place, three shots back, and finished in 3rd place, five shots back. Greg (target: 98) faltered on the front nine, opening with a triple and turning the corner with a 54. Greg did improve his form on the back nine, firing a 48, but closed his round with a triple bogey on 18 at a moment when a par would have put a heap of unwanted pressure on Jeff Mains.

So, that’s the top three: how did the rest of us also-rans fare on Sunday at Orford?

Brian Joe (target: 93) came into the day in 4th, and finished 4th, going out in 46 and coming home in 47, putting him at even for the day and +5 for the weekend. Brian has got game and has been in the top five on multiple occasions. Once he gets comfortable embracing the burden of his ‘unfair’ target, we will see him sipping from the Pewter Mug.

Derrick Hockley (target: 86) came into the day in 7th, and moved up a few notches to 5th, going out in 43 and coming home in 44, putting him at +1 for the day and +8 for the weekend. Though he carded 4 double bogeys, Derrick’s 87 — which also included two birdies — was undoubtedly a lot more satisfying than his opening round 93.

Blake Johnston (target: 97) wasn’t happy with his opening round 106 (+9) but shook off the rust and redeemed himself on Sunday. He came into the day in 10th, and moved up four spots to 6th, going out in 49 and coming home in 50, putting him at +2 for the day and +11 for the weekend.

Andres (Sergio) del Castillo (target: 91) came into the day in 5th, but showed the effects of the Saturday evening festivities as he slid to 7th. Andy went out in 50 and came home in 49, putting him at an unhappy +8 for the day and +14 for the weekend. This fan favourite will prevail someday.

As the second most maligned Sandbagger champion, yours truly (target: 91) came into the day tied for a lamentable 11th. I managed to climb a few spots to finish in 8th, largely due to a blistering (for me) 43 on the front nine. Yes, I crashed and came home with a 52 but, if the concussion doesn’t lead to permanent impairment, I will choose to recall the front half of my final round. I ended up at +4 for the day and +15 for the weekend.

Greg Jarvis (target: 77) came into the day tied for 11th — due to his shocking opening round 88 (+11) — but redeemed himself somewhat by shooting an 82, the low score of the day, a great round for most but still a +5 for Greg. Greg, Sandbagger Champion in 2006 and 2012, went out in a mediocre (for him) 44 but turned it around and came home with an impressive 38, leaving him tied for 9th, at +16, on the weekend.

2000 Champion Geoff Oliver (target: 86) came into the day tied for 5th, but tumbled to a tie for 9th, after carding a surprising 96. Geoff’s front nine 51 included a three hole stretch where the former champion was a stunning 11 over par. He was much sharper on the back nine, coming home in 45, but still had a triple bogey marring his scorecard. Geoff finished at +10 for the day and +16 for the weekend.

Michel Ranger (target: 81) came into the day tied for 7th, but tumbled to an 11th place finish. The 2014 champion went out in 45 (despite carding a quad) and came home in 48, putting him at +12 for the day and +19 for the weekend.

Analyst Johnny Miller has ventured the opinion that three-time Champion Ricky Cunliffe (target: 94) buckled under the pressure of his lowest ever target. CedRick came into the day tied for 7th, but tumbled to a 12th place finish, after going out in 53 and coming home in 55. His final round 108 put him at +14 for the day and +21 for the weekend. But, Rick was still a winner: he enjoyed the fine meals, the revelry, the camaraderie and, maybe most impactfully, the fact he wasn’t hosting.

Jeff – congratulations on your well-deserved victory and thank you, again, for hosting us at Lake Stukely and delivering such a fine meal on Saturday evening. We hope all the effort was worth it!

A table showing the Final Results for 2018 is below.

Tags: Results, Sandbagger Chronicles, Sandbagger XXIII by Sandbagger Commissioner
Comments Off on Jeff Mains overtakes (Food) Banker, Capitalizing on Home Course Advantage (Again) to Win 2018 Sandbagger

It was a beautiful day at Owl’s Head for day one of Sandbagger XXIII.  Just as in Malone last year, it was cool but sunny and it warmed up nicely as the afternoon progressed.  The course was in great shape (unlike my game).

Mike Maidment, the best player never to win the Sandbagger, was in great form, going 43-41, 3 strokes under his target, all while playing under the pressure of a big stakes skins game (or maybe it reduced pressure because he knew he’d be fleecing the suckers he played with).  Four Sandbaggers had lower targets than Mike, but none carded a lower score.  The greens were fast and sloped — provoking much cursing — but Mike never faltered with his putter.   Jeff Mains fought off some early struggles — in the form of an opening hole 9! — to put himself just one shot off Maidment’s lead.  Greg Hodgins, another Sandbagger who has yet to (legally) sip from the Pewter Mug, fired a 98, right on his target, leaving him just 3 back of the leader.

Brian Joe whined and moaned his way into the leader’s group for the closing round.  Brian’s complaints were already falling on deaf ears during the Star Chamber.  Now that he is in the top 4, perhaps the mute button will permanently deployed?

If Messrs Maidment, Mains and Hodgins falter, there are a lot of ‘Baggers waiting to pounce.  After the top three, the next six golfers are grouped closely, separated by only two strokes.  That group includes 3-time winner Ricky Cunliffe, defending champ Derrick Hockley, past champions Geoff Oliver and Michel Ranger.  Brian Joe and Andy del Castillo (former lead singer of Eight Seconds) both of whom have not hoisted the mug, are also lurking.

For Blake Johnston, the tension of standing over a Sandbagger putt was more than his shaky nerves could handle, proving that absences from competitive play can seriously hinder performance.  Greg Jarvis, on the other hand, never misses a competition.  It’s not clear what put him off his game – was his 11-over 88 a result of being intimidated by Jeff Mains’ booming drives? or was it the way Jeff Mains drives a cart?  Having failed to convince us during the Star Chamber, Greg is undoubtedly already positioning himself for a 5 stroke increase to his target for 2019.  He plays the long game…   All I can say about yours truly is that I hit about six really good shots today.  Well, maybe five.

Name

Maidment

Mains

Hodgins

Joe

del Castillo

Oliver

Ranger

Hockley

Cunliffe

Johnston

Jarvis

Anderson

Tgt

87

111

98

93

91

86

81

86

94

97

77

91

Rd 1

84

109

98

98

97

92

88

93

101

106

88

102

+/-

-3

-2

E

+5

+6

+6

+7

+7

+7

+9

+11

+11

Tags: Results, Sandbagger XXIII by admin
No Comments »

• LODGINGS: We will be fortunate enough to be staying at Jeff Mains’ cottage, on Lake Stukely.  (Directions are in a bullet further down.)
• COSTS: Please bring $50 for Jeff.  This will cover Saturday dinner, 2 breakfasts, cleaning lady, snack foods.  BYOB !!
• OTHER FEES: Past champions who have not yet received or paid for their beautiful and high quality Sandbagger Champion golf shirt should pack accordingly.  I will bring your shirts.  You should bring payment.  The privilege of being in the Champions Club is both Priceless AND $70. Think of it as like owning a Green Jacket.   Only nicer.
• BEDDING/TOWELS: Please BYO sleeping bags and towels to cut down on laundry load for Jeff.  Remembering to act on this modest request will relieve Jeff (and others?) of hours of work.
• CLOTHING: Jeff encourages people to bring bathing suits.
• DIRECTIONS: For those of you who will rely on GPS, the address is: 12 chemin de la Ferme, Eastman, Quebec, J0E 1P0.  Don’t let road signage throw you off; Jeff’s chalet is actually about 8 km from Eastman.  Jeff notes that most mapping systems will suggest drivers bypass Montreal by taking highway #30.  Sounds good to me.  My research shows a travel time of 3h15 (320 km) from Ottawa, on the route skirting south of Montreal.
• CONTACT INFO: If you are lost (or just lonely), Jeff’s cell is 514 891-1238.  The phone number for the chalet is 450 297-3608.
• STAR CHAMBER: We will gather on Friday evening for the Star Chamber.  8 pm start.  Be there or be screwed.  Those absent will be dealt with first.  Just kidding.  Maybe.
• ATTENDEES: At this point, I have the following 13 people confirmed: Meself, Rick Cunliffe, Andy del Castillo, Greg Hodgins, Derrick Hockley (defending Sandbagger champion), Greg Jarvis, Brian Joe, Blake Johnston, Guy Laframboise (area resident, local knowledge advantage), Michael Maidment, Jeff Mains, Geoff Oliver, Michel Ranger.  There may yet be an addition or two.
• CARPOOLING: Ride-sharing is encouraged.  Note that 11 of 13 attendees are from Ottawa.  Find a buddy or two to share the driving.  Help fight climate change.
• GOLF – SATURDAY: Our first official round  begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Owl’s Head Golf Course.  Tee times are: 10:00, 10:08, 10:16 and 10:24.  The address is: 181 CH. OWL’S HEAD, Mansonville (Québec) Canada, J0E 1X0.  The phone number for the course is: 1 800 363-3342.  77.50$ taxes included per person (includes cart).
• GOLF – SUNDAY: The closing (i.e., championship) round on Sunday is at Club de golf du Mont Orford.  Tee times are at 10:16, 10:24, 10:32 and 10:40.  The address is: 3074, Chemin du Parc Orford (Québec) J1X 7A2.  Phone number for the course is: 1 866-673-6731.
• GOLF – FRIDAY: As usual, for those who are able to get away early, a Friday afternoon warm-up is a possibility.  Jeff recommends CHÂTEAU-BROMONT, as it is a nice course that is en route to your final destination (i.e., about half an hour west of his chalet).   Looks like green fees are $30 after 2 pm (cart would be extra).  I am not yet sure if I can play on Friday, but I am aware of several (Andy, Blake, Michael) who are inclined.  Please let me and others know if a game comes together.  If I can make it, I will.

Tags: Sandbagger XXIII by Sandbagger Commissioner
Comments Off on Sandbagger XXIII – Details and Logistics