Weekly Recaps

TONAWANDA, NY – After winning his record setting 8th career green jacket victory, Jeff Luke was in no mood to meet with the media after the match. It's been nearly two weeks and since the last league play and he has been unavailable for comment and many in the media are wondering why. The chatter around the league is that Luke has had a constant target on his back given his consistent play and especially the management of the league. After being served on the 6th hole the week prior, Luke has been laser focused on taking another league championship home for Christmas.

Given the media's attention to Luke, the week-7 recap has been cancelled. Instead, the PIH Times has produced an "Arrow Up, Arrow Down" on each putter with a brief outlook on the final three weeks of the season.

Alex Keil: UP - No putters hotter than Alex Keil. Alex has shot 6.6 strokes better the last two weeks and went from nearly breaking 50 to nearly dropping below 40. Vegas expects Alex to continue the trend in the final three weeks.

Justin Brindenbaker: UP - With a 5-stroke difference the past two weeks, Brindenbaker is catching fire and has sub-40 rounds the last two weeks. Vegas has Brindenbaker at 5-1 to win a green jacket in the final weeks of 2023.

Todd O'Bryan: UP - While his performance off the greens is sub-par, O'Bryan has improved considerably the last two weeks however, Vegas expects very little out of him in the final three weeks and believes he has peaked at 41.

Scott Lis: UP - Out of all the 2023 rookies, Lis seems to want it more than the others. Will that translate into a victory or a top-3 finish in any of the final weeks? Probably not. Expect Lis to return to the 40's in at least two of the final three weeks.

Steve Maziarz: UP - With his first sub-40 round of his career and a 2nd place finish at the Ride Her Cup, Maziarz has started to ascend to relevancy. Will he stay relevant? Not likely. His focus has and will continue to not be the worst. Not an attitude the attitude of a champion.

Bryan An: UP - With three consecutive rounds in the 30's for the first time in his career, An wants nothing more than a green jacket. Unfortunately, luck and the lack of true grit on the greens will likely prevent him from reaching his goal in 2023. Look for An to break the seal in 2024, not 2023.

Dominic LoVallo: UP - Dom has the skill, desire, and mindset of a champion. The only thing the league hasn't seen is consistency week-over-week or from hole-to-hole. With time will come a green jacket. That time will likely not come in 2023.

Eric Alstrom: UP - Alstrom is said to be the best 'real golf' putter in the league. To date, he hasn't proven that where it matters: Putter-In-Hand. Alstrom has missed too many weeks which suggests he doesn't have his priorities in order. Also, whoever the fuck said "real golf" doesn't have the respect for the league and should be put under sanction immediately.

Mark Verost: UP - Mark shot a sub-40 round for the first time since week-9 of last season. Despite having two decent rounds the last two weeks, Mark is likely to return to his 43+ career average the final three weeks.

Harald Rehm: UP - Harald, coming off his Rider Cup Victory, is riding a high. He's shot back to back 40's his last two weeks of play (missing week-7) and is determined to make an impact in the final three weeks. Given his historically shitty play with his recent success, Vegas has removed his name from the board and not accepting any bets on Harald the final three weeks.

Joel Cady: UP - With one sub-40 round in his career in week-3, Cady continues to be a non-factor week-over-week. While he may not return to the 45 average he scored in the first two weeks, he's also not one to contend for a green jacket any time soon.

Jeff Luke: UP - As the career leader in green jackets and league championships, you can't deny his excellence. With the constant abuse the commish receives at the hands of the deplorables from Grand Island, he's more determined than ever to catch Cox and take a 3rd league title in the final weeks.

Brenan Dracup: UNKNOWN - With a 13-stroke difference between Dracup's highest and lowest rounds of the year, no one can guess what Dracup will do week-over-week, not even he knows. Will Dracup win a 2nd green jacket in 2023? No. Will Dracup surprise the league with a sub-40 round again in 2023? Maybe. One thing that is a guarantee, he and Cady will never be seen at the course without one another.

Chris Wilkinson: EVEN - No Luck Wilks. He'll contend most weeks and at best finish 3rd if he's at the Dome on Thursday. League sources say he's planning on pre or post putting to avoid the pressure of putting with others. League officials are considering amending the rules to prevent such acts but tends to avoid making in-season rule changes whenever possible.

Joe Neeson: EVEN - Somewhat of a surprise in 2023, outside of his 46 in week-3, Neeson has been a weekly contender. Look for Neeson to continue to have his ups and downs the final three weeks.

Scott Wilson: EVEN - Wilson has had his share of decent rounds and none to bad. He's not going to score low enough to contend but could sneak a mid-30 round if the luck goes his way.

Shawn Tracey: EVEN - Tracy has had a typical rookie campaign as he learns the course and understands the league dynamics more and more. Vegas doesn't expect him to be much of a factor in his rookie or sophomore seasons, instead looking to 2025 before he contends for a green jacket.

Shawn Conschafter: EVEN - Conschafter is where you would expect him at this point in the season: top-10 overall, one green jack, and atop the bar-tab leader board according to The Grill's accountant. Conschafter will take his typical slide from contention but does look forward to more hallway putting where he excels better after 11-12 vodka and waters.

Jim Neville: EVEN - Consistency is Neville's game. With 3 41's, 3 39's, and a 38, Neville continues to surprise him self as well as the rest of the league. Given he hasn't blown up and shot his 45-50 round, Vegas has Neville as the top candidate for the "most likely to shit the bed" award from this point forward.

Jay Flemming: EVEN - Flemming hasn't contended for a green jacket yet in 2023. Many are questioning the reason while he continues to question the weekly pairings. Having to putt with Caito seems to be his kryptonite. As long as he can avoid the luck of the draw and not get paired with Caito, he'll contend for a green jacket each of the final three weeks.

John Coyle: EVEN - The mystery of Coyle continues. Once a perennial contender for the green jacket, Coyle has only finished in the money once in 2023. Some are saying his lack of commitment to the game has him in a funk while others are claiming he, Mondoux, and Conschafter are at odds and making things awkward on the putting greens and at the bar has him off. Until he sorts his personal life out, Coyle will remain out of the money.

Tim Kazukiewicz: EVEN - Tim has put together a couple of good rounds as a rookie and has reportedly been putting in the practice rounds in an effort to win the green jacket. To date, Tim hasn't sniffed the podium but has the attitude and moxy that it takes to win it. Expect Tim to make a run in 2024. As for 2023, no chance, rook.

Trevor Duffy: EVEN - Duffy had a top-3 finish in week-5, surprising him and the rest of the league. He also has a 45, 46, and 47, surprising no one in the league. Duffy will use 2023 as a learning experience as he considers his PIH future.

Joe Jankowski: DOWN - With a 3rd place finish in week-4, Jankowski thought he knew the course and could contend in the league from that point forward. Since that round, he's had his worst score of his career and has been flustered on several occasion by the antics those in the league for years see as nothing but normal. Until Jankowski knows how to manage the pressure of the league, expect him to remain in his own head and not be a factor.

Kelly Caito: DOWN - Proving practice doesn't make perfect, Caito continues to struggle and is headed in the wrong direction. While her once equal, Maziarz, moves up the leader board and shoots personal bests, Caito continues to struggle even finishing last in the Ride Her Cup.

Scott Verost: DOWN - Battling injuries, Scott Verost has seen his success in 2023 but has mostly seen disaster. He surprised the putting world in 2022 with a late season rush and a hole-in-one championship but sitting in 23rd place overall, no one expects much of anything the final three weeks of the season.

Nick Keil: DOWN - With 2.1 strokes over the last two weeks compared to the first 5, Nick has struggled as of late. According to the Londonderry Times, Nick's been off since returning to his beloved neighborhood without explanation. Don't expect anything from Nick and you won't be disappointed.

Tom Barbops: DOWN - Despite a relatively impressive putting campaign to date, Barbops has yet to win a green jacket in 2023. Anyone else sitting in 5th place at this point in the year you would say is having a great year. Not Barbops. Vegas expected at least one green jacket and no worse than 3rd after 7 weeks. Expect Barbops to remain in contention but given his struggles, don't expect a top-3 finish for the season.

Steve Steck: DOWN - With the 2nd worse performance the last two weeks over the previous 5, Steck has struggled much of the 2023 season. Many on The Island say his 2022 performance was the peak of his PIH career. Looking at the scores he's put up, no one can say they aren't right. Expect nothing from Steck but a great story and a few drinks at the Grill.

Jeff Hewett: DOWN - No one has been worse the past two weeks of the season and that is undeniable. With 3.2 strokes worse the past two weeks compared to the first five, Hewett has said to have thrown in the towel. Just a year after he won the league championship, Hewett has turned into Harald as of late…minus the laugh of course.

Mike Mondoux: DOWN - Mondoux hasn't shot a round in the 40's thus far in 2023. His scores the last two weeks are not that far off from the previous five. So why the arrow down? It all comes down to poise and attitude. Mondoux has struggled to maintain his composure and he's crumbled under pressure multiple times this season. Expect nothing more from Mondoux than a 5th place finish for the season.

Jason Cox: DOWN - Like Mondoux, Cox has been consistent throughout the first 7 weeks of the season. But his struggles at the Ride Her Cup exposed the true Cox. The putting world has seen the best of Cox and his descend to mediocracy has begun.