| The Month in Review |
| A monthly feature recapping all Lefty Golfers Association events |
| September 2005 |
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HALE ERWIN NORMAN
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
43-48--- 91
51-46--- 97
49-49--- 98
58-53--- 111
51-46--- 97
49-49--- 98
58-53--- 111
The LGA kicked off the critical month of September with another visit to Lafleur Golf Club. Hale Erwin Norman, after posting a
fine 43 on the front, built a six shot lead at the turn and coasted to only his fourth win of the 2005 campaign and only his second
win since May 8th, a six shot victory over Masters champion and top rightie Costa Doinbiznis. Norman's game was similar to
those of his glory days from yesteryear, a steady diet of pars, bogeys and doubles. As he headed to 18 he needed par to break
90, but in that he failed, scoring a double-bogey seven on the par-5 18th. For runner-up Doinbiznis, his 97 was his highest
score since the month of July, but on the positive side it was his fourth consecutive sub-100 round, a once-upon-a time rarity for
'The Biz'. On the crappy side his round was notable in that he putted 38 times. Dr. Mario Blondin was next on the leaderboard,
finishing third and also breaking 100 after a couple of games in triple digits. He probably would not have come close to the
nineties, but his putting was on fire, particularly on the front nine. Now of course for some LGA members, a new month usually
brings new promise, but also, and as usual with the case of last place finisher Paul Hornsby III, false hope. Hornsby's front
nine 58 was brutal even by his diminished standards, and his 111 (accomplished without a single hole in double-digits)
translated into his fifth last place result in his last six. "I would look for a league with less talent to join", an embarassed
Hornsby told reporters after the event, adding "but unfortunately, it just doesn't get any lower than the LGA". Speak for yourself,
Hornsby.
fine 43 on the front, built a six shot lead at the turn and coasted to only his fourth win of the 2005 campaign and only his second
win since May 8th, a six shot victory over Masters champion and top rightie Costa Doinbiznis. Norman's game was similar to
those of his glory days from yesteryear, a steady diet of pars, bogeys and doubles. As he headed to 18 he needed par to break
90, but in that he failed, scoring a double-bogey seven on the par-5 18th. For runner-up Doinbiznis, his 97 was his highest
score since the month of July, but on the positive side it was his fourth consecutive sub-100 round, a once-upon-a time rarity for
'The Biz'. On the crappy side his round was notable in that he putted 38 times. Dr. Mario Blondin was next on the leaderboard,
finishing third and also breaking 100 after a couple of games in triple digits. He probably would not have come close to the
nineties, but his putting was on fire, particularly on the front nine. Now of course for some LGA members, a new month usually
brings new promise, but also, and as usual with the case of last place finisher Paul Hornsby III, false hope. Hornsby's front
nine 58 was brutal even by his diminished standards, and his 111 (accomplished without a single hole in double-digits)
translated into his fifth last place result in his last six. "I would look for a league with less talent to join", an embarassed
Hornsby told reporters after the event, adding "but unfortunately, it just doesn't get any lower than the LGA". Speak for yourself,
Hornsby.
Photos not available
SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 - LAFLEUR
SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 - BELLEVUE (BELLEVUE COURSE)
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS
*FRED CUPHOLDERS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
*FRED CUPHOLDERS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
46-43--- 89
49-51--- 100
54-49--- 103
56-51--- 107
49-51--- 100
54-49--- 103
56-51--- 107
As has become a Labour Day tradition, the LGA celebrated all who have ever been injured on the job, including those who
celebrate being injured on the job, with the running of the Workman's Compensation Trophy, affectionately referred to in
Quebec as the 'CSST'. Continuing his amazing stretch in tournaments of importance, so to speak, righthander Costa
Doinbiznis, after almost a decade of vomit-reeking golf, posted another round in the 80's, this one at the more difficult Bellevue.
'The Biz' avoided bad holes all day long, and was particularly impressive on the back nine, coming in with a 43 for an eleven
stroke victory over fellow rightie Fred Cupholders. It was a frustrating day for Cupholders, who could not gain on Doinbiznis
despite some decent golf at times. In spite of that, he would finish on the century mark, not too impresive for a guy who shot 83
just a couple of weeks back. Still his performance was good enough to ensure a one-two finish for northpaws, a situation
rapidly becoming the norm. Dr. Mario Blondin made another LGA appearance, but seemed ill, as though the recent resurgence
of his late night medical practice was taking its toll. If he wasn't ill at the outset, his 42-putt total certainly made him so. And
speaking of ill, Paul Hornsby III continued his sizzling play of late. Disregard the previous sentence as it should have read
'fizzling' play of late. In short, he sucked, coming in at well over a hundred yet again. Although it wasn't the worst golf ever
witnessed in the LGA ( it's just so hard to get as bad as that), it was still not very pretty. Hornsby's play could be best
encapsulated by his play on the beer hole 17th, where he hit a beautiful 5-iron to about 6 feet, and then 3-putted, spilling the
beer.
celebrate being injured on the job, with the running of the Workman's Compensation Trophy, affectionately referred to in
Quebec as the 'CSST'. Continuing his amazing stretch in tournaments of importance, so to speak, righthander Costa
Doinbiznis, after almost a decade of vomit-reeking golf, posted another round in the 80's, this one at the more difficult Bellevue.
'The Biz' avoided bad holes all day long, and was particularly impressive on the back nine, coming in with a 43 for an eleven
stroke victory over fellow rightie Fred Cupholders. It was a frustrating day for Cupholders, who could not gain on Doinbiznis
despite some decent golf at times. In spite of that, he would finish on the century mark, not too impresive for a guy who shot 83
just a couple of weeks back. Still his performance was good enough to ensure a one-two finish for northpaws, a situation
rapidly becoming the norm. Dr. Mario Blondin made another LGA appearance, but seemed ill, as though the recent resurgence
of his late night medical practice was taking its toll. If he wasn't ill at the outset, his 42-putt total certainly made him so. And
speaking of ill, Paul Hornsby III continued his sizzling play of late. Disregard the previous sentence as it should have read
'fizzling' play of late. In short, he sucked, coming in at well over a hundred yet again. Although it wasn't the worst golf ever
witnessed in the LGA ( it's just so hard to get as bad as that), it was still not very pretty. Hornsby's play could be best
encapsulated by his play on the beer hole 17th, where he hit a beautiful 5-iron to about 6 feet, and then 3-putted, spilling the
beer.
Photos not available
THE WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION TROPHY
*FRED CUPHOLDERS
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
DR. MARIO BLONDIN
PAUL HORNSBY III
46-45--- 91
49-48--- 97
50-47--- 97
49-48--- 97
50-47--- 97
A cool but pleasant day greeted this barely official-sized field of three for yet another LGA event at the Cog. As has become the
norm this season, the tournament's only righthander, Fred Cupholders, grabbed the lead from the outset with a par on one
and coasted to an easy six shot win over both Dr. Mario Blondin and Paul Hornsby III. Cupholders would tally five pars for the
day, walking off 18 with his eighth victory of the season and still a faint hope of winning LGA Player of The Year with a gold
medal at the Lefty Olympics in two weeks time. The two southpaws. Dr. Blondin and Hornsby, posted equal 97's, but they
were by no means identical. Blondin's round was steady, almost boring, carding 36 putts and only 2 pars for the day. He took
consolation in completing the round in double-digits, a result which is never a guarantee in the LGA. As for Hornsby, after a
front-nine 50, 'Da Turd' started the back nine very strongly, being only three over through the first five, but his comeback would
be thwarted by his gonad-crunching triple bogey on 15. Hornsby had a good day on the greens, putting only 31 times. The
event was only the 25th held by the Association this season, a disappointing number compared to previous seasons,
prompting once again speculation about the future of the league. When approached for comment, LGA President Paul
Hornsby (no relation) was blunt. "The LGA needs a future. It certainly doesn't have a past it can be proud of."
norm this season, the tournament's only righthander, Fred Cupholders, grabbed the lead from the outset with a par on one
and coasted to an easy six shot win over both Dr. Mario Blondin and Paul Hornsby III. Cupholders would tally five pars for the
day, walking off 18 with his eighth victory of the season and still a faint hope of winning LGA Player of The Year with a gold
medal at the Lefty Olympics in two weeks time. The two southpaws. Dr. Blondin and Hornsby, posted equal 97's, but they
were by no means identical. Blondin's round was steady, almost boring, carding 36 putts and only 2 pars for the day. He took
consolation in completing the round in double-digits, a result which is never a guarantee in the LGA. As for Hornsby, after a
front-nine 50, 'Da Turd' started the back nine very strongly, being only three over through the first five, but his comeback would
be thwarted by his gonad-crunching triple bogey on 15. Hornsby had a good day on the greens, putting only 31 times. The
event was only the 25th held by the Association this season, a disappointing number compared to previous seasons,
prompting once again speculation about the future of the league. When approached for comment, LGA President Paul
Hornsby (no relation) was blunt. "The LGA needs a future. It certainly doesn't have a past it can be proud of."
Photos not available
SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 - CAUGHNAWAGA
SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 - CAUGHNAWAGA
*COSTA DOINBIZNIS - Cuba (Playoff)
*FRED CUPHOLDERS - Scotland
HALE ERWIN NORMAN - Germany
DR. MARIO BLONDIN - Ireland
PAUL HORNSBY III - Ukraine
CHRIS THE 9-IRON KID - Greece
*DON KRAFTDINNER - New Zealand
*PIETRO LEWINSKY - Italy
*JAMES GANAN - The Netherlands
*FRED CUPHOLDERS - Scotland
HALE ERWIN NORMAN - Germany
DR. MARIO BLONDIN - Ireland
PAUL HORNSBY III - Ukraine
CHRIS THE 9-IRON KID - Greece
*DON KRAFTDINNER - New Zealand
*PIETRO LEWINSKY - Italy
*JAMES GANAN - The Netherlands
49-46--- 95
49-46--- 95
47-50--- 97
50-48--- 98
45-56--- 101
48-56--- 104
59-58--- 117
57-63--- 120
65-68--- 133
49-46--- 95
47-50--- 97
50-48--- 98
45-56--- 101
48-56--- 104
59-58--- 117
57-63--- 120
65-68--- 133
Photos not available
THE TENTH LEFTY OLYMPICS OF GOLF
After a weekend off, the Lefty Golfers Association returned to action with the year's biggest event and final major, the tenth
edition of the Lefty Olympics of Golf. Only nine nations graced the Caughnawaga Golf Club for this historic event, and once
again it would prove dramatic. Costa Doinbiznis, representing Cuba, blew a two shot lead on the beer hole 17 with a triple
bogey, allowing fellow rightie Fred Cupholders to rally and force a one hole playoff, won easily by Doinbiznis, giving him his first
career gold medal and making him the first righthander to win the Lefty Slam and the first LGA player to do so since the
inception of the LGA's third major tournament in 2002. The win virtually assures 'The Biz' of LGA PLayer of the Year honours,
and also brings his season scoring average to below 100 for the first time in his not-so-illustrious career. The highlight of
Costa's round was his chip-in birdie from under a tree on 13, narrowing a then 5-shot lead by Paul Hornsby III to a single shot.
For Cupholders, the silver medal result was disappointing, and could have probably been avoided were it not for his 8 on the
par-4 12th hole. In the end it would be yet another one-two finish for northpaws and a third straight win. Bronze medalist and
top lefty was five-time gold medalist Hale Erwin Norman representing Germany. Although ony two shots back at the finish,
Norman was unable to recover from an ugly 9 on the aforesaid par-4 12th. Norman's career medal count now stands at nine.
Finishing fourth was Dr. Mario Blondin, once again wearing the Irish colours. The doctor's round was steady as he managed to
break 100 for a second straight event. His day was made after he won the beer hole on 17, taking an astonishing and
liver-destroying 8 beers, but he was never truly in contention even though he only finished three shots back. And speaking of
contention, Paul Hornsby III headed to the 13th hole with a five-shot lead over the field, with four competitors tied for second, but
his third on 13 would bounce back into the bunker, from where he would earn a triple bogey and a total loss of momentum. He
would finish the round with a festival of sevens, failing to break 100 and in fifth. Next on the leaderboard was Chris The 9-Iron
Kid. In only his sixth event of the year, 9-Iron was also in that four-way tie for second through 12 holes, five behind Hornsby, but
the Greek would fade badly, the exclamation point on his choke being his 9 on the par-5 18th. Next in the order of merit was
New Zealand's Don Kraftdinner, playing in his fourth straight Olympics (although he has yet to play in a regular LGA event). His
117 was his worst result ever, even with three pars on the card. Kraftdinner hit rock bottom with his 13 on the par-5 5th, the
biggest number of the day. Finishing eighth was Italy's Pietro Lewinsky, who managed to avoid double-digits until the very last
hole, when he would mark a disappointing 11. Still his result was significant in that by finishing eighth in a field of nine, he
would grab his first win of the season in the 'versus all opponents' department, bringing his season record to an ugly 1-31-0
through eight events. Rounding out the field, in his LGA debut, was cross-handed James Ganan, representing The
Netherlands. Ganan was granted lefty status by the LGA because he stands on the proper side of the ball. His 133 would prove
quite respectable for an LGA debut, a brief study of the history of the Association justifying such a statement.
edition of the Lefty Olympics of Golf. Only nine nations graced the Caughnawaga Golf Club for this historic event, and once
again it would prove dramatic. Costa Doinbiznis, representing Cuba, blew a two shot lead on the beer hole 17 with a triple
bogey, allowing fellow rightie Fred Cupholders to rally and force a one hole playoff, won easily by Doinbiznis, giving him his first
career gold medal and making him the first righthander to win the Lefty Slam and the first LGA player to do so since the
inception of the LGA's third major tournament in 2002. The win virtually assures 'The Biz' of LGA PLayer of the Year honours,
and also brings his season scoring average to below 100 for the first time in his not-so-illustrious career. The highlight of
Costa's round was his chip-in birdie from under a tree on 13, narrowing a then 5-shot lead by Paul Hornsby III to a single shot.
For Cupholders, the silver medal result was disappointing, and could have probably been avoided were it not for his 8 on the
par-4 12th hole. In the end it would be yet another one-two finish for northpaws and a third straight win. Bronze medalist and
top lefty was five-time gold medalist Hale Erwin Norman representing Germany. Although ony two shots back at the finish,
Norman was unable to recover from an ugly 9 on the aforesaid par-4 12th. Norman's career medal count now stands at nine.
Finishing fourth was Dr. Mario Blondin, once again wearing the Irish colours. The doctor's round was steady as he managed to
break 100 for a second straight event. His day was made after he won the beer hole on 17, taking an astonishing and
liver-destroying 8 beers, but he was never truly in contention even though he only finished three shots back. And speaking of
contention, Paul Hornsby III headed to the 13th hole with a five-shot lead over the field, with four competitors tied for second, but
his third on 13 would bounce back into the bunker, from where he would earn a triple bogey and a total loss of momentum. He
would finish the round with a festival of sevens, failing to break 100 and in fifth. Next on the leaderboard was Chris The 9-Iron
Kid. In only his sixth event of the year, 9-Iron was also in that four-way tie for second through 12 holes, five behind Hornsby, but
the Greek would fade badly, the exclamation point on his choke being his 9 on the par-5 18th. Next in the order of merit was
New Zealand's Don Kraftdinner, playing in his fourth straight Olympics (although he has yet to play in a regular LGA event). His
117 was his worst result ever, even with three pars on the card. Kraftdinner hit rock bottom with his 13 on the par-5 5th, the
biggest number of the day. Finishing eighth was Italy's Pietro Lewinsky, who managed to avoid double-digits until the very last
hole, when he would mark a disappointing 11. Still his result was significant in that by finishing eighth in a field of nine, he
would grab his first win of the season in the 'versus all opponents' department, bringing his season record to an ugly 1-31-0
through eight events. Rounding out the field, in his LGA debut, was cross-handed James Ganan, representing The
Netherlands. Ganan was granted lefty status by the LGA because he stands on the proper side of the ball. His 133 would prove
quite respectable for an LGA debut, a brief study of the history of the Association justifying such a statement.