Weekly Recaps
Post-round write-ups from the commissioner
Tonawanda, NY – With one-third of the field of 24 being new to the league, no one knew for certain how week-1 was going to turn out. In the end, PIH veteran Dean Trzewieczynski took home the green jack for the first time in his career with an opening round of 40, besting his arch nemesis Jeff Luke and rookie Shawn Conschafter by one stroke.
The week-1 victory was Trzewieczynski first though he briefly did wear the jacket before being caught stroke-shaving in week-4 last year. Trzewieczynski was assessed a 4-stroke penalty and a 3-week probation for his actions last year but claims to have learned a valuable lesson and vows to never let that happen again. "I've dreamed of the day I would wear this jacket home." Trzewieczynski said after the match. "Getting a taste of the glory last year before being stripped of the win as a result of an honest mistake was what drove me to today's victory."
Trzewieczynski shot a pedestrian 21 on the front but uncharacteristically closed the round with a 19 on the back-9. He's vowed to be at the top of the leader-board every week and in contention for the championship come week-6.
Asked how he was going to celebrate, Trzewieczynski said "I'm going to party like all the past winners had done before me. I envied the glory that others received and the time has come for me to get a taste of that." And pictures sent early Thursday morning show Trzewieczynski may have kept his word as photos received by TMZ.com reportedly show the green jacket on Trzewieczynski's kitchen table with bottles of booze, left over pizza and women's panties strewn over it. When contacted by TMZ.com, Trzewieczynski was unavailable for comment but they did speak to his fiance Dana Mastermaker who when shown the photos quipped "Um, those are not my panties!" Asked if she was worried that the victory may have lead to infidelity on Trzewieczynski's part, Mastermaker replied "I told him before, if he ever beats Luke at anything, he's got a hall-pass. I just asked that he tell me before he takes action. So that's the only possible disappointing part to this story. Otherwise, I'm happy for him." She's certainly an understanding fiance.
It wasn't easy for Trzewieczynski as there was plenty of hungry competitors behind him. Jeff Luke recorded the season's first hole-in-one on his 3rd hole of the season but followed that up with a disappointing 4 on the very next hole. Luke regrouped and recorded 2's and 3's the rest of the way, finishing with a 41 and tied for second with newcomer and fellow foursome putter Shawn Conschafter. Conschafter, who tied Jay Flemming for a league best 18 on the back-9, kept pace with Luke and showed he's going to be a force in 2016. Luke nearly turned in a scorecard that read 39 before auditing Kevin Kelly's math and correcting the score. The reason for the error was a hot topic after the match: Kelly said it was an honest mistake while others believe he was trying to right his brother's wrong OR he is following his family's mission to screw Luke at every chance, this time by getting him to turn in a scorecard that read lower than the actual score. Whatever the reason, the league is on warning that any and all mathematical errors by a Kelly family member is treated as if it is blatant cheating and the putter or putters affected will be punished regardless of the root cause.
While Vegas did predict scandal within the league, they certainly didn't have Dr. Joe Mills anywhere near the top in the preseason rankings after finishing 15th last season. Mills recorded a personal best 42 and finished 4th, tied with Tom Barbops who returned to the course for the first time since choking away the 2015 championship in the final week last year. Barbops said "I was pleased with my performance today. Last year's ending was awful and I was just pleased to put up a decent round in week-1. My strategy is to be near the top at the end as I know what I will do if I'm in the lead going into the final week." Barbops sits safely tied for 4th after one week.
Just a hole-in-one behind Barbops and Mills was rookie Scott Mason. Mason put up a respectable 42 but did vow to do better next week...at the bar. Having an early flight the next morning, Mason had to leave right after the round and said "The point of the league is to have a few pops afterwards. Not putt and run." These comments further support Vegas' early prediction of 16th place for Mason. Expect this to be his best finish of the year.
Last year's season opening winner, and often accused adulterer, Tim Remy posted a 43 with one hole-in-one, good for a 7th place finish all alone...by himself...where he belongs.
Kevin Kelly, who was playing with 2nd place finishers Luke and Conschafter, finished in 8th place with a 43, the same position he was predicted to finish by Vegas. Despite his aforementioned 18 on the back-9, Flemming's 26 on the front-9 put him in sole possession of 9th place. And rounding out the top-10 was 2016 preseason favorite Steve Pezzino with a solid debut, scoring a 44.
Just outside the top-10 was 2015 preseason favorite Scott Wilson who looked to be in mid-season form as he is believed to be the last man at the bar after posting a 45, one stroke better than 2015 hole-in-one champion Jim Neville. Neville picked up right where he left off recording two holes-in-one. Along with the two aces he had four 4's which resulted in a 46. If he can keep it together for 18 holes he would make Vegas look like they knew what they were doing when they projected him to finish 2nd.
The next four putters are all seasoned veterans who have had their run at Putter-In-Hand glory. Whitey Ondak, Mark VeRost, Joe Neeson, and Tim Roesch all managed to score 46's with no holes-in-one, good for a 13th place finish. I wouldn't expect much better from this group as their flaws definitely outweigh their deteriorating skill. Several strokes behind this group was the wagon-riding Bryan An who was clearly displaying the affects of his decision to stop drinking for a few months to better himself. What it didn't better was his golf game which saw him choke on several short putts and he even hit it into a sand trap twice on one hole. He better jump off that wagon soon if he wants any chance at PIH glory.
One stroke behind An was another rookie John Coyle who vowed to use whatever means possible to take home the green jacket in week-2. After recording a 50, and downing a few drinks, Coyle laid out his plan to use technology to conquer the course. He intends to return "several times before next week and use GPS, drones, topography tools and whatever I need to lay out a course book for next week. (chugs beer) I promise you, I will take home that green jacket damn it! (chugs beer)" Coyle has what it takes to contend at the bar but most doubt his skills on the course, not to mention his ability to use technology as he was fumbling with his phone on a few occasions in an attempt to send Steve Steck a photo of the bartender. Coyle also asked league commissioner Jeff Luke that he group "The 6-Pack" together one week. Confused if that was a man-band, Coyle clarified. "Group me, Neville, Neeson, Steck, Pezzino and Conschafter one week so we can wear our beer hats and chug beers together. It will be great." I'm not sure if that is within league rules, but something tells me that these six may end up in the basement by week-6 and can most certainly play together if the choose.
And rounding out this week's finishers is Scott VeRost who wasn't having a great debut. The only hole-in-one VeRost recorded was the hole in one of his tires on the way to the course. Finishing with a 51, he was still 3 strokes better than James Genitit and Tony Rotella's 54. Both Rotella and Genitit scored a hole-in-one AND matching 32's on the front-9. How the hell this is even possible is anyone's guess. Even Harald could laugh at there performance...if Harald was there.
Herald Rehm, Jeff Kelly and Steve Steck have until the following Wednesday at 7:00 to make up for there absence or they will be assessed a 2-stroke penalty 56.
Week-1 was an eventful one that saw some familiar names atop the leader-board, reassurance that some rookies have come to challenge the veterans, and drinks will be had afterwards. Given the expanded pool of players, movement at the top is more than likely.
Week-1 Fun Facts:
Asked how he was going to celebrate, Trzewieczynski said "I'm going to party like all the past winners had done before me. I envied the glory that others received and the time has come for me to get a taste of that." And pictures sent early Thursday morning show Trzewieczynski may have kept his word as photos received by TMZ.com reportedly show the green jacket on Trzewieczynski's kitchen table with bottles of booze, left over pizza and women's panties strewn over it. When contacted by TMZ.com, Trzewieczynski was unavailable for comment but they did speak to his fiance Dana Mastermaker who when shown the photos quipped "Um, those are not my panties!" Asked if she was worried that the victory may have lead to infidelity on Trzewieczynski's part, Mastermaker replied "I told him before, if he ever beats Luke at anything, he's got a hall-pass. I just asked that he tell me before he takes action. So that's the only possible disappointing part to this story. Otherwise, I'm happy for him." She's certainly an understanding fiance.
It wasn't easy for Trzewieczynski as there was plenty of hungry competitors behind him. Jeff Luke recorded the season's first hole-in-one on his 3rd hole of the season but followed that up with a disappointing 4 on the very next hole. Luke regrouped and recorded 2's and 3's the rest of the way, finishing with a 41 and tied for second with newcomer and fellow foursome putter Shawn Conschafter. Conschafter, who tied Jay Flemming for a league best 18 on the back-9, kept pace with Luke and showed he's going to be a force in 2016. Luke nearly turned in a scorecard that read 39 before auditing Kevin Kelly's math and correcting the score. The reason for the error was a hot topic after the match: Kelly said it was an honest mistake while others believe he was trying to right his brother's wrong OR he is following his family's mission to screw Luke at every chance, this time by getting him to turn in a scorecard that read lower than the actual score. Whatever the reason, the league is on warning that any and all mathematical errors by a Kelly family member is treated as if it is blatant cheating and the putter or putters affected will be punished regardless of the root cause.
While Vegas did predict scandal within the league, they certainly didn't have Dr. Joe Mills anywhere near the top in the preseason rankings after finishing 15th last season. Mills recorded a personal best 42 and finished 4th, tied with Tom Barbops who returned to the course for the first time since choking away the 2015 championship in the final week last year. Barbops said "I was pleased with my performance today. Last year's ending was awful and I was just pleased to put up a decent round in week-1. My strategy is to be near the top at the end as I know what I will do if I'm in the lead going into the final week." Barbops sits safely tied for 4th after one week.
Just a hole-in-one behind Barbops and Mills was rookie Scott Mason. Mason put up a respectable 42 but did vow to do better next week...at the bar. Having an early flight the next morning, Mason had to leave right after the round and said "The point of the league is to have a few pops afterwards. Not putt and run." These comments further support Vegas' early prediction of 16th place for Mason. Expect this to be his best finish of the year.
Last year's season opening winner, and often accused adulterer, Tim Remy posted a 43 with one hole-in-one, good for a 7th place finish all alone...by himself...where he belongs.
Kevin Kelly, who was playing with 2nd place finishers Luke and Conschafter, finished in 8th place with a 43, the same position he was predicted to finish by Vegas. Despite his aforementioned 18 on the back-9, Flemming's 26 on the front-9 put him in sole possession of 9th place. And rounding out the top-10 was 2016 preseason favorite Steve Pezzino with a solid debut, scoring a 44.
Just outside the top-10 was 2015 preseason favorite Scott Wilson who looked to be in mid-season form as he is believed to be the last man at the bar after posting a 45, one stroke better than 2015 hole-in-one champion Jim Neville. Neville picked up right where he left off recording two holes-in-one. Along with the two aces he had four 4's which resulted in a 46. If he can keep it together for 18 holes he would make Vegas look like they knew what they were doing when they projected him to finish 2nd.
The next four putters are all seasoned veterans who have had their run at Putter-In-Hand glory. Whitey Ondak, Mark VeRost, Joe Neeson, and Tim Roesch all managed to score 46's with no holes-in-one, good for a 13th place finish. I wouldn't expect much better from this group as their flaws definitely outweigh their deteriorating skill. Several strokes behind this group was the wagon-riding Bryan An who was clearly displaying the affects of his decision to stop drinking for a few months to better himself. What it didn't better was his golf game which saw him choke on several short putts and he even hit it into a sand trap twice on one hole. He better jump off that wagon soon if he wants any chance at PIH glory.
One stroke behind An was another rookie John Coyle who vowed to use whatever means possible to take home the green jacket in week-2. After recording a 50, and downing a few drinks, Coyle laid out his plan to use technology to conquer the course. He intends to return "several times before next week and use GPS, drones, topography tools and whatever I need to lay out a course book for next week. (chugs beer) I promise you, I will take home that green jacket damn it! (chugs beer)" Coyle has what it takes to contend at the bar but most doubt his skills on the course, not to mention his ability to use technology as he was fumbling with his phone on a few occasions in an attempt to send Steve Steck a photo of the bartender. Coyle also asked league commissioner Jeff Luke that he group "The 6-Pack" together one week. Confused if that was a man-band, Coyle clarified. "Group me, Neville, Neeson, Steck, Pezzino and Conschafter one week so we can wear our beer hats and chug beers together. It will be great." I'm not sure if that is within league rules, but something tells me that these six may end up in the basement by week-6 and can most certainly play together if the choose.
And rounding out this week's finishers is Scott VeRost who wasn't having a great debut. The only hole-in-one VeRost recorded was the hole in one of his tires on the way to the course. Finishing with a 51, he was still 3 strokes better than James Genitit and Tony Rotella's 54. Both Rotella and Genitit scored a hole-in-one AND matching 32's on the front-9. How the hell this is even possible is anyone's guess. Even Harald could laugh at there performance...if Harald was there.
Herald Rehm, Jeff Kelly and Steve Steck have until the following Wednesday at 7:00 to make up for there absence or they will be assessed a 2-stroke penalty 56.
Week-1 was an eventful one that saw some familiar names atop the leader-board, reassurance that some rookies have come to challenge the veterans, and drinks will be had afterwards. Given the expanded pool of players, movement at the top is more than likely.
Week-1 Fun Facts:
- Average Score: 45.5
- Holes-in-one: 12
- Best front-9: 21 (Trzewieczynski & Pezzino)
- Best back-9: 18 (Conschafter & Flemming)
- Both season-1 and season-2 week-1 worse score was a 54 with a hole-in-1 posted by 4 golfers (Harald & Roesch in '15; Rotella & Genitit in '16)
- 3 Holes-in-one were recorded on the 18th hole
- Only Pezzino, Coyle and Roesch recorded worse scores on the back-9 than the front-9.