Jeff Mains overtakes (Food) Banker, Capitalizing on Home Course Advantage (Again) to Win 2018 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.
R. Cunliffe, J. Anderson, G. Jarvis, B. Johnston 
M. Ranger, A. del Castillo, D. Hockley, G. Oliver 
B. Joe, J. Mains, M. Maidment, G. Hodgins