Like a stealth fighter jet streaking to it's target under cover of the night, Keith Charles Budzik has kept a pretty low profile this season. CGA legend Eric Osborn once issued this warning: "There's something sneaky about Budzik." Indeed.
Budzik fired a pedestrian 50/44 that on it's face inspires a series of yawns. But the numbers don't tell how Budzik won the last two holes in his match against Super Sub Dan Frieburger to go from down 1 with 2 to play to an 11 to 4 win. And they don't tell how Budzik won the last hole for his team for another 11 to 4 win. When is a 50/44 sneaky enough to win Player of the Week? When it is enough to put you in first place in the Individual race and protects your team's hold on first place in the Team standings with one week to go.
Golf is a funny game. That's all you can really say about what happened to The Commash on Monday night. Needing to come up big for High & Mighty, which had it's collective back up against the wall, and having seen his lead in the Individual race dwindle to 3 points, The Commash knew he had to do something special in Week 17. How special is a season best gross 34/net 30? The answer: it's pretty special, but not special enough. As The Commash stood on the 9th tee he was 1 under gross and 5 under net. He was also closed out of his match against Feller down 2. Feller, claiming to be suffering the remnants of a nasty overhang, parred 6 of the first 8 holes. He stood on the 9th tee at 3 over gross and 8 under net. The Commash birdied the final hole, while Feller MNQ'ed, to salvage low net and hedge his way to an 8 to 7 loss. Afterwards, Feller was asked to submit a urine sample to the league for testing. Said The Commash afterwards, "It was like playing a robot." RoboJay ended up with a 44/33 and a healthy chunk of The Commash's scalp. Meanwhile, Peter came up big for High & Mighty, saving any hope of a team title with a clutch, final hole 11 to 4 win over Diwik.
So, with one week to go, it breaks down like this. The Team race is essentially a three team affair now after Carry The Bag dismantled Higher Stakes 36 to 9. Webb and Ayers are now only 6 points behind Bob Evans, who managed a 25 to 20 win over Schoe Me Wood. High & Mighty still has a pulse, but is 20 points back. The Bob's square off against Red Numbers. Shaffer is out, so Budzie will take on Super Sub Dan Frieburger for the second consecutive week. Carry the Bag takes on Rolling J's, and High & Mighty finishes with Light It Up.
The Individual race is technically a five horse race. Budzik leads with 139 points. The Commash is second at 138. Swannie is third at 131, while Webb and Shaffer are tied for fourth at 130 and Ayers is sixth at 128. As mentioned above, Shaffer will miss the final event, ending his chances of repeating his Individual Title. Ayers needs Budzik to get beat 11 to 4 or worse and then needs to post a 15 to 0 win, i.e., Ayers needs a U.S. Olympic hockey team type of miracle. Swannie and Webb have slightly better odds, but need some help to have a chance. In summary, Budzie and The Commash need to lose big and one of these guys (or both) need to win big. If Budzik wins at least 7.5 points, Webb is eliminated. If Budzie wins at least 8.5 points Swannie is eliminated. If Budzie loses, then the same result occurs if The Commash wins 8.5 or 9.5 respectively. As far as Budzie and The Commash, let's just say it is a good old sprint to the finish. Put it this way: Budzik's magic number is 14.5 If both players lose, Budzie holds the advantage.
Needless to say, this has turned out to be one of the most hotly contested and exciting finishes in CGA history in both the Team and Individual races. Good luck to everyone next week.
