| The Month in Review |
| A monthly feature recapping all Lefty Golfers Association events |
| May 2002 |
MAY 4, 2002 - CAUGHNAWAGA
HALE E. NORMAN
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
P.P. HORNSBY
49-49--- 98
50-53--- 103
54-50--- 104
59-58--- 117
50-53--- 103
54-50--- 104
59-58--- 117
The LGA season headed into the month of May with lefty pride on the line. Hale Erwin Norman, out to prevent the first known
instance of a righthander winning consecutive tournaments, outlasted Costa Doinbiznis for a five shot victory and a successful
removal of that unsightly asterisk from the top of the leaderboard. Doinbiznis pulled even with Hale through 15, setting up a
possibly interesting finish, but crappy putting through the finishing holes proved to be the 'nail' for the upstart rightie. Norman
scored a par on 18 to remove any possibility of a repeat for Costa. Dr. Mario Blondin, entering the round in the midst of a terrible
funk, started the round with an 11 (heave!!) on the first hole, but found his form and finished strongly, only one shot behind
Doinbiznis. It was the fifth straight round in triple-digits for the doctor, and his handicap has now risen by four shots since the
beginning of April. P.P. Hornsby also started badly, and continued badly, particularly on the greens, where he tallied 44 putts for
the round. Hornsby's puke-filled round had a bright spot, when after he scored par on 16, P.P. actually moved into the lead in the
LGA for number of pars this season. With the victory, Norman has now moved into second place in wins with 2, tied with Costa
Doinbiznis. Of course we know that in the LGA, in the event of a tie between a lefthander and a righthander, the lefthander gets
top billing, but in this case, Norman would merit the honour by the mere fact that he has played in only three events.
instance of a righthander winning consecutive tournaments, outlasted Costa Doinbiznis for a five shot victory and a successful
removal of that unsightly asterisk from the top of the leaderboard. Doinbiznis pulled even with Hale through 15, setting up a
possibly interesting finish, but crappy putting through the finishing holes proved to be the 'nail' for the upstart rightie. Norman
scored a par on 18 to remove any possibility of a repeat for Costa. Dr. Mario Blondin, entering the round in the midst of a terrible
funk, started the round with an 11 (heave!!) on the first hole, but found his form and finished strongly, only one shot behind
Doinbiznis. It was the fifth straight round in triple-digits for the doctor, and his handicap has now risen by four shots since the
beginning of April. P.P. Hornsby also started badly, and continued badly, particularly on the greens, where he tallied 44 putts for
the round. Hornsby's puke-filled round had a bright spot, when after he scored par on 16, P.P. actually moved into the lead in the
LGA for number of pars this season. With the victory, Norman has now moved into second place in wins with 2, tied with Costa
Doinbiznis. Of course we know that in the LGA, in the event of a tie between a lefthander and a righthander, the lefthander gets
top billing, but in this case, Norman would merit the honour by the mere fact that he has played in only three events.
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MAY 11, 2002 - CAUGHNAWAGA
HALE E. NORMAN
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
42-55--- 97
49-50--- 99
48-53--- 101
47-60--- 107
49-50--- 99
48-53--- 101
47-60--- 107
Our golfing gurus (and Costa Doinbiznis) returned to Caughnawaga for a second straight Saturday amidst more speculation
given the events of recent weeks. During a front-nine which witnessed all four golfers score below 50 for the first time in LGA
history, Hale Erwin Norman carded four pars, including three in a row, to build a 5-shot cushion over the competition, only to see
his lead diminish to one over P.P. Hornsby through 17. Norman's front-nine 42, however, was just a little too strong for the field
to overcome, allowing Hale his third tournament win of 2002. Hornsby, fresh from two days in bed nursing a nasty flu, survived
through much of the second half before catching fire on the finishing holes (not referring to his fever) to break 100 for only the
third time in his mostly vomit-laden career. Among the highlights of his round was a near ace into gale force winds at 10.
Naturally, after leaving his tee shot three feet short of the hole, he missed the birdie putt. Rightie Doinbiznis, after fearlessly
predicting a victory for himself during the course of the entire week, once again displayed spectacular play with his long irons,
particularly on the par-5 5th, where he ended up over the green in two (that's right, over the green). Unlike Hornsby, however,
Costa did succeed in scoring birdie, his second this year. Unfortunately, despite needing only 5 over par with three to play to
break 100 for the first time ever, Doinbiznis ended up with 101, still his best this season. Dr. Mario Blondin, entering the round
with renewed confidence, played a solid 47 on the front, but crappy play on 11 and 12 contributed to a magot-encompassing 60
coming in, placing him in fourth, once again behing "The Hounds". It was Blondin's sixth straight round over 100. Weirdly, Chris
The 9-Iron Kid, in his absence, moved into first rank overall for 2002 as a result. All players bypassed the press conference after
the game, instead returning to play 9 holes of 'skins', during which the doctor took seven holes and scored a 41. With the full
LGA slated to play next weekend, what will happen is anybody's guess.
given the events of recent weeks. During a front-nine which witnessed all four golfers score below 50 for the first time in LGA
history, Hale Erwin Norman carded four pars, including three in a row, to build a 5-shot cushion over the competition, only to see
his lead diminish to one over P.P. Hornsby through 17. Norman's front-nine 42, however, was just a little too strong for the field
to overcome, allowing Hale his third tournament win of 2002. Hornsby, fresh from two days in bed nursing a nasty flu, survived
through much of the second half before catching fire on the finishing holes (not referring to his fever) to break 100 for only the
third time in his mostly vomit-laden career. Among the highlights of his round was a near ace into gale force winds at 10.
Naturally, after leaving his tee shot three feet short of the hole, he missed the birdie putt. Rightie Doinbiznis, after fearlessly
predicting a victory for himself during the course of the entire week, once again displayed spectacular play with his long irons,
particularly on the par-5 5th, where he ended up over the green in two (that's right, over the green). Unlike Hornsby, however,
Costa did succeed in scoring birdie, his second this year. Unfortunately, despite needing only 5 over par with three to play to
break 100 for the first time ever, Doinbiznis ended up with 101, still his best this season. Dr. Mario Blondin, entering the round
with renewed confidence, played a solid 47 on the front, but crappy play on 11 and 12 contributed to a magot-encompassing 60
coming in, placing him in fourth, once again behing "The Hounds". It was Blondin's sixth straight round over 100. Weirdly, Chris
The 9-Iron Kid, in his absence, moved into first rank overall for 2002 as a result. All players bypassed the press conference after
the game, instead returning to play 9 holes of 'skins', during which the doctor took seven holes and scored a 41. With the full
LGA slated to play next weekend, what will happen is anybody's guess.
MAY 18, 2002 - LE RIVIERA
HALE E. NORMAN
CHRIS 9-IRON KID
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
*PETRO LEWINSKY
CHRIS 9-IRON KID
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
*PETRO LEWINSKY
48-47--- 95
51-49--- 100
53-52--- 105
58-57--- 115
67-60--- 127
67-70--- 137
51-49--- 100
53-52--- 105
58-57--- 115
67-60--- 127
67-70--- 137
The LGA began yet another doubleheader weekend, this time with a field of six returning to narrow Le Riviera, where Hale Erwin
Norman scored par on the first two holes, and waited as his opponents dropped back to coast to an easy five shot victory over
Chris The 9-Iron Kid and his fourth tour victory of the season in five tries. Norman's 95 is now the low round of the year in the
LGA, and Hale's fourth straight under 100 after his season opening 124. Norman has now completed the comeback, moving
from last to first in scoring average within a month. 9-Iron Kid, in only his second appearance this year, stayed out of trouble and
putted strongly, posting his best score of the young season, a respectable 100 on a course he had never before played. Dr.
Mario Blondin, still in search of that elusive sub-100 round, scored a crappy 9 on the first hole, and continued mundane play
throughout, the stuff which is rapidly becoming the norm for the doctor. He finished with a 105, good enough for third place. Al
Fred returned to LGA action after a month's absence, playing a consistent (or would that be inconsistent?) 58-57. Although a
disappointing score for Al, it was good enough to place him as top righthander for the day, ruining another potential 1-2-3-4
finish for our lefthanded heroes, which naturally leads us into the topic of P.P. Hornsby, who, after breaking 100 the week before,
fired an ulcer-causing 127 to finish fifth, an embarassment for southpaws indeed. P.P. rolled his first two shots out of bounds,
winding up with 11 on the first hole, and it did not get much better from there. "I'm putting like Nick Faldo", Hornsby was heard
mumbling to himself after yet another three-putt on the back nine. Rounding out the field was Petro Lewinsky, in his season
debut. Petro, playing mostly irons from the tee after his relative success at last season's monkey golf event, started strongly by
his standards, but four holes in double-digits and a smorgasbord of muffed shots would prove too expensive for Lewinsky. He
ended up playing the LGA version of a bogey-free round, one without birdies or pars either.
Norman scored par on the first two holes, and waited as his opponents dropped back to coast to an easy five shot victory over
Chris The 9-Iron Kid and his fourth tour victory of the season in five tries. Norman's 95 is now the low round of the year in the
LGA, and Hale's fourth straight under 100 after his season opening 124. Norman has now completed the comeback, moving
from last to first in scoring average within a month. 9-Iron Kid, in only his second appearance this year, stayed out of trouble and
putted strongly, posting his best score of the young season, a respectable 100 on a course he had never before played. Dr.
Mario Blondin, still in search of that elusive sub-100 round, scored a crappy 9 on the first hole, and continued mundane play
throughout, the stuff which is rapidly becoming the norm for the doctor. He finished with a 105, good enough for third place. Al
Fred returned to LGA action after a month's absence, playing a consistent (or would that be inconsistent?) 58-57. Although a
disappointing score for Al, it was good enough to place him as top righthander for the day, ruining another potential 1-2-3-4
finish for our lefthanded heroes, which naturally leads us into the topic of P.P. Hornsby, who, after breaking 100 the week before,
fired an ulcer-causing 127 to finish fifth, an embarassment for southpaws indeed. P.P. rolled his first two shots out of bounds,
winding up with 11 on the first hole, and it did not get much better from there. "I'm putting like Nick Faldo", Hornsby was heard
mumbling to himself after yet another three-putt on the back nine. Rounding out the field was Petro Lewinsky, in his season
debut. Petro, playing mostly irons from the tee after his relative success at last season's monkey golf event, started strongly by
his standards, but four holes in double-digits and a smorgasbord of muffed shots would prove too expensive for Lewinsky. He
ended up playing the LGA version of a bogey-free round, one without birdies or pars either.
MAY 19, 2002 - CAUGHNAWAGA
CHRIS 9-IRON KID
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
51-53--- 104
58-54--- 112
63-59--- 122
No Score Posted
58-54--- 112
63-59--- 122
No Score Posted
More unseasonable cold and wind greeted the LGA as it completed a doubleheader weekend with a visit to Caughnawaga.
Chris The 9-Iron Kid, miraculously appearing in his second straight LGA event, took advantage of a weak and discouraged field
to take his first event win of the year, a huge eight shot victory over P.P. Hornsby and the rest of the sloppy gang. Chris needed
only 31 putts to complete the 18 holes, one of his best ever performances on the green. P.P. Hornsby, struggling once again
after a good stretch of golf (by his standards, anyway), managed to overcome some very bad lies and even worse luck, and
survived 39 putts to finally come in with a barfy 112 but a second place nevertheless. Rightie Costa Doinbiznis had an even
worse day, particularly on the front where he posted a horrendous 63. Costa also counted 40 putts and a total of 31 shots
(heave!!) on the five par 3's. Nobody, however, had a worse day than Dr. Mario Blondin. Mario could not overcome extreme anger
on the par-3 4th, where he picked up his ball and declared a twelve, then finally packed it in entirely on the fifth hole, after a
misunderstanding surrounding a search for his ball. This was just the latest in a string of episodes surrounding Dr. Blondin this
season. Among them was his refusal to participate in a tie-breaking playoff against P.P. Hornsby, and The Loser Incident. The
Lefty Golfers Association will probably take disciplinary action against Blondin. The doctor could face stiff fines or a suspension,
or maybe not. President Paul Hornsby (no relation) will announce his decision during the coming week.
Chris The 9-Iron Kid, miraculously appearing in his second straight LGA event, took advantage of a weak and discouraged field
to take his first event win of the year, a huge eight shot victory over P.P. Hornsby and the rest of the sloppy gang. Chris needed
only 31 putts to complete the 18 holes, one of his best ever performances on the green. P.P. Hornsby, struggling once again
after a good stretch of golf (by his standards, anyway), managed to overcome some very bad lies and even worse luck, and
survived 39 putts to finally come in with a barfy 112 but a second place nevertheless. Rightie Costa Doinbiznis had an even
worse day, particularly on the front where he posted a horrendous 63. Costa also counted 40 putts and a total of 31 shots
(heave!!) on the five par 3's. Nobody, however, had a worse day than Dr. Mario Blondin. Mario could not overcome extreme anger
on the par-3 4th, where he picked up his ball and declared a twelve, then finally packed it in entirely on the fifth hole, after a
misunderstanding surrounding a search for his ball. This was just the latest in a string of episodes surrounding Dr. Blondin this
season. Among them was his refusal to participate in a tie-breaking playoff against P.P. Hornsby, and The Loser Incident. The
Lefty Golfers Association will probably take disciplinary action against Blondin. The doctor could face stiff fines or a suspension,
or maybe not. President Paul Hornsby (no relation) will announce his decision during the coming week.
MAY 25, 2002 - LAFLEUR
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
HALE E. NORMAN
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
HALE E. NORMAN
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
46-46--- 92
49-49--- 98
51-48--- 99
53-58--- 111
49-49--- 98
51-48--- 99
53-58--- 111
The Lefty Golfers Association made its first visit to Lafleur this season, where once again history was witnessed. Dr. Mario
Blondin appeared to regain his long lost form, flirting with a sub-90 round until the very end, and also scored birdie on the par-3
11th, on the way to his first event win since April 13th. It was also Mario's first round under 100 since April 12th, and his first
game since being put on probation by LGA officials after last week's failure to post a score. Hale Erwin Norman's winning streak
ended at 4, despite his also scoring birdie on the par-4 3rd hole. Norman lost sight of Blondin through the back nine, and
instead had to focus on holding off the man of the day, rightie Al Fred, who displayed a pesky short game and rode a few lucky
breaks, including slamming the pin on 17 to prevent an errant chip shot from running 50 yards past the green. Fred wound up at
99, his first ever sub-100 round. He only scored one par for the day but conversely, did not have a hole worse than triple bogey,
an accomplishment in the LGA. Rounding out the field was a frustrated P.P. Hornsby, sporting graphite clubs, a surprise Friday
night purchase. Although masterful with them on the range prior to the event, Hornsby's lack of talent once again surfaced
during the round, particularly in the bunkers, where he lost his cool and lots of shots, especially on the par-3 11th, a hole
Hornsby proclaimed as "...the easiest par-3 in Quebec" as he teed up his ball. He ended up with a vomit-reeking 9 and finished
the day well behind the leaders. It is worthy of note that as a result of Dr. Blondin's victory, he now trails 4-2 to Hale Norman in
the 2002 Doculab Senior Challenge.
Blondin appeared to regain his long lost form, flirting with a sub-90 round until the very end, and also scored birdie on the par-3
11th, on the way to his first event win since April 13th. It was also Mario's first round under 100 since April 12th, and his first
game since being put on probation by LGA officials after last week's failure to post a score. Hale Erwin Norman's winning streak
ended at 4, despite his also scoring birdie on the par-4 3rd hole. Norman lost sight of Blondin through the back nine, and
instead had to focus on holding off the man of the day, rightie Al Fred, who displayed a pesky short game and rode a few lucky
breaks, including slamming the pin on 17 to prevent an errant chip shot from running 50 yards past the green. Fred wound up at
99, his first ever sub-100 round. He only scored one par for the day but conversely, did not have a hole worse than triple bogey,
an accomplishment in the LGA. Rounding out the field was a frustrated P.P. Hornsby, sporting graphite clubs, a surprise Friday
night purchase. Although masterful with them on the range prior to the event, Hornsby's lack of talent once again surfaced
during the round, particularly in the bunkers, where he lost his cool and lots of shots, especially on the par-3 11th, a hole
Hornsby proclaimed as "...the easiest par-3 in Quebec" as he teed up his ball. He ended up with a vomit-reeking 9 and finished
the day well behind the leaders. It is worthy of note that as a result of Dr. Blondin's victory, he now trails 4-2 to Hale Norman in
the 2002 Doculab Senior Challenge.
MAY 26, 2002 - ST-FRANCOIS - MILLE-ILES COURSE
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
*AL FRED
P.P. HORNSBY
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
53-43--- 96
53-49--- 102
61-50--- 111
64-50--- 114
53-49--- 102
61-50--- 111
64-50--- 114
Our world travelling heroes completed yet another doubleheader weekend with a trip to St-Francois in northern Laval. Dr. Mario
Blondin, after scoring two consecutive nines, spotted rightie Al Fred a four shot lead thorugh six, but thereafter regained his
confidence and posted pars on five of the next six holes to gradually pull away and take his second straight LGA event. Al Fred
put a scare into the LGA for a second day in a row, avoiding bad holes once again while watching his competition flail away for
the first six holes. Were it not for his triple-bogey on 18, Fred could have broken 100 again, a mere one day after doing it for the
first time ever. His 102 would be good enough to catapult Al into fourth rank overall in LGA scoring average. P.P. Hornsby,
playing his second round with his new graphite clubs, survived a lackluster front nine, but finally showed signs of returning to
his putting form of old coming in, counting only 33 total for the day. Costa Doinbiznis also continued to struggle as he has for the
last couple of events, counting a total of 64 shots (hurl!!!) on the first nine, but the rightie in the tandem of 'hounds' also rallied
coming in, highlighted by his third birdie of 2002 on 16 (it was actually seven as the tournament was started on the 10th hole),
and the third in the LGA this weekend, a record. At the press conference held after the event, Al Fred proclaimed that he would
'break 90 by the end of the season', causing a minor uproar among fellow players and journalists. A senior lefty advised Fred
that perhaps he should first try to break 100 at least one more time.
Blondin, after scoring two consecutive nines, spotted rightie Al Fred a four shot lead thorugh six, but thereafter regained his
confidence and posted pars on five of the next six holes to gradually pull away and take his second straight LGA event. Al Fred
put a scare into the LGA for a second day in a row, avoiding bad holes once again while watching his competition flail away for
the first six holes. Were it not for his triple-bogey on 18, Fred could have broken 100 again, a mere one day after doing it for the
first time ever. His 102 would be good enough to catapult Al into fourth rank overall in LGA scoring average. P.P. Hornsby,
playing his second round with his new graphite clubs, survived a lackluster front nine, but finally showed signs of returning to
his putting form of old coming in, counting only 33 total for the day. Costa Doinbiznis also continued to struggle as he has for the
last couple of events, counting a total of 64 shots (hurl!!!) on the first nine, but the rightie in the tandem of 'hounds' also rallied
coming in, highlighted by his third birdie of 2002 on 16 (it was actually seven as the tournament was started on the 10th hole),
and the third in the LGA this weekend, a record. At the press conference held after the event, Al Fred proclaimed that he would
'break 90 by the end of the season', causing a minor uproar among fellow players and journalists. A senior lefty advised Fred
that perhaps he should first try to break 100 at least one more time.