The 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.

 

Tags: Results, Sandbagger XXIII by admin
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