Weekly Recaps

TONAWANDA, NY – December 1, 2022 will go down as one of the greatest days in Steve Steck’s life. Only the birth of his children and the day he lost his virginity to his neighbor Ms. Bumgarner were better days than the day Steck shocked the putt-putt world to win his first career green jacket.

Steve Steck was an athlete again…even if it was for a day.

Steck had played 27 rounds and never finished in the top-3 (record). His previous best finish was 5th in 2017. His career average score (45.6) was higher than that of any other green jacket winner. His career best score was a 39.

So to say this day was like no other is not an exaggeration.

Steck shot a career low 36+2 to take home the week-8 title. When asked after the green jacket ceremony how he felt, Steck choked back the tears and replied “It feels great. I feel like I'm 18 and in my prime again.”

How did he do it? What was different? “I have no clue. I really don’t. I just hit the ball and prey it lands close to the hole. Today, the putt-putt Gods listened.” he said. "This is a chance to show my family, friends, coworkers, and students that I'm not washed up. That there is hope after all seems lost." how to never give up. Never count yourself out."

Once Steck exploited his opportunity at the Grill and show the Grill Girls he still had more to offer than his hair, Steck texted his daughters to tell them. As you can see from the screenshots Steck shared with PIH, even his daughters didn’t believe him at first (can you blame them?).

The next stop for the green jacket was to his classroom to show his students he isn’t washed up like they thought. As you can see from the photo shared on the Grand Island High School’s athletic departments website, his students were in shock just like his daughters.

When asked why he was wearing pajama pants in the picture Steck said “It’s pajama day at school, all the students are wearing them.” When asked why he, being a teacher, was wearing them he admitted “I feel like a kid again. I’ve regained my youth. I’m back. Wanna skip 9th period?”

Steck was clearly still feeling the effects of his victory and that of the Buffalo Bills the same night.

As the final school bell rang, Steck could be heard walking down the hallways asking where the parties were at. The students ignored “Mr. Steck” and cleared the halls quickly.

But Steck’s green jacket tour wasn’t over.

On Sunday, Steck donned the green jacket as he gave a Jimmy V like speech at the GI football end-of-year banquet.

PIH has obtained a transcript of Steck's speech:

"Students, for the past several years you have been reading the countless number of articles about my fall from athletic greatness. How bad of an athlete I have become. Believe it or not, I was once an athlete like you. Back in the day, I had this hair AND your athleticism. But I let it all go.

That is no longer the case. I am back students. I am an athlete again!” he proclaimed, holding his arms in the air and tears running down his cheeks while the students confusingly cheered, not knowing what Mr. Steck was talking about but happy for his obvious joy.

He continued “I can't thank Putter-In-Hand enough for allowing this to happen and I'm going to work as hard as I can to stay in putt-putt shape. And hopefully we'll be back again.

I have fallen so far down the depths of athleticism that I was even bad, no, horrible at putt-putt. Grand Island has beens like Mark Verost and Shawn Conschafter were beating me. Gym teacher Mike Mondoux who in his prime was nothing more than a gym class athlete has won several times. Even Joe Neeson who was in band in 1980 and never played a real sport was considered a better athlete than me just days ago.

I know I've got to go. I've got to go, and I got one last thing. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again. If there is one thing to take away from tonight it is don't give up, don't ever give up. Burgers and beer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my jaw line. It cannot touch my smile. And it most certainly cannot touch my hair. And those three things are going to carry me forever. I thank you and God bless y'all.”

Steck walked off to a standing ovation with many in attendance in tears. This was definitely a night Steve Steck will remember forever.

In other news:

John Coyle shot a 37+2 to finish in the money for the first time this year. Coyle's previous best finish this year was tied for 2nd so he didn't claim any prize money. Coyle's finish puts him in 6th place overall, 13.75 points out of first. Mathematically, Coyle is still in it but he needs a strong finish in the final two weeks and a few to a falter to finish in the money.

In 3rd this week was Jeff Hewett with a 38+2. Hewett has been in the top-5 overall the entire year, even sitting atop the league standings at one point. Hewett sits in 5th place overall, just 5 points out of first.

His best score and finish of the year, Dominic LoVallo finished in 4th with a 38+1. Dom and 5th place finisher Rob Vickers are battling it out for Rookie of the Year honors as they sit in 13th and 12th place respectively. This is a battle we'll be watching in the final two weeks.

Tied for 6th this week with 39+1 was Shawn Conschafter and pre-putter-extraordinaire Jay Flemming. Conschafter quietly sits in 3rd place overall, 4.25 points back and credits his lack of happy-hour drinks for his standings so late in the year. "I've taken a new approach this year. Wait until AFTER the round to get plowed. It's proven effective."

Flemming sits in 7th place overall and credits Bryan An for his standings this late in the year. "I've taken a new approach this year. Pre-putt and get Bryan An plowed BEFORE the round. It's proven effective."

Jeff Luke finished in 8th place with a 39+0. That was good enough to move him into 1st place overall as Mike Mondoux shot a 13th place 42+1. Luke sits 2.75 points ahead of Tom Barbops who shot a 10th place 40+1.

In 9th place is Joel Cady with a 40+2. Cady sits in 18th place overall and has scored a 40 in his last 4 rounds. Cady's goal for the last two weeks is to break away from his playing partner Brenan Dracup and score a 39 or better. "I've had to pre-putt and be paired with Brenan quite a few times this year and frankly, he sucks. He brings anyone down that he plays with. This finish and with the new rules of putting based on the previous weeks finish on non-major weeks will allow me to putt with folks that are good. Not these bottom feeders." Let's see what Cady can do with this week's pairings.

In the battle for Total Holes-in-One, Jeff Luke remains atop of the list despite not scoring a hole in one this week. Luke has 10 on the year while Jay Flemming, Joe Neeson, Scott Wilson, and Tom Barbops all have 8 a piece.

As for the Haralds Challenged, only two putters remain: John Coyle and Mike Mondoux. If Harald post-putts this week and scores better than a 42+1, Mondoux will be eliminated. Harald's whereabouts are unknown and it is not clear if he will be putting before week-9 starts.

Reminder: December 15th is media week and the 2nd Rider Cup event of the season. The final week of the season will be played on December 22 with the banquet immediately after. More details about the banquet costs will be sent out in the coming days.