| Stow,
MA (AP) – Ryan Sahr has cemeted his position
as Boston’s number one player with his third straight
win and first major victory. That it came at the expense
of Jack Saini’s repeat bid made it all the sweeter
for Sahr. The now well-known refusal by Saini to return
the Wannamaker Trophy after capturing it last year had
prompted a Tour member to anonymously quip “he obviously
didn’t win many trophy’s as a kid”.
The unprecedented trophy-napping forced the Executive
Committee to have a replacement trophy made up in time
for the tournament and drew the ire of several Tour members.
Saini, who has become one of the most critical members
in the promotion of the Boston Tour, would only say, “I
won it fair and square and I am keeping it dammit!”
In solid position after the first round to make a run
at the title was David Ouyang, playing in what will
likely be his final Boston Tour event. His opening round
80 surprisingly was good enough for third, three strokes
behind Edmund Cape and one behind Reid DeMont. Unfortunately,
the Chicago-bound Ouyang was unable to make a final
round charge and placed much of the blame on the slow
pace of play saying “I was Caped.” He was
of course referring to Tai Chi master and king of the
preshot routine Edmund Cape. Ouyang who if you eliminate
his Sergio Garcia waggle, is a brisk player, was clearly
frustrated by watching Cape survey his shot for several
minutes at a time.
“The worst part of it is that I have terrible
allergies and for me to hold a sneeze for as long as
Edmund stands over the ball is actually painful. On
his approach at eight I felt one of my lungs start to
collapse. Luckily he stepped away, probably sensing
my nostrils twitching, and I was able to let it fly.”
Lamichane, who joined Cape and Ouyang on the South
course was equally critical saying, “I guess I
can’t say much because I did take twenty more
strokes than him but that routine has got to go, man.
It is like watching the mating ritual of the praying
mantis. It’s like Jim Furyk on ether except Cape’s
swing is prettier. You know what I mean?”
Reid DeMont withheld any criticism as he is one of
the few gentlemen on Tour but he was forced to leave
prior to completing his round as he had a fashion shoot
to attend with Jarmo Sandelin. The Jesper Parnevik stunt
double is often called in to make appearances for Jesper
when he plays on the European Tour.
As for the golf, Saini and Sahr tore up the North course.
Saini’s 64 was a Boston Tour record and Sahr’s
67 was good enough to tie him with Saini at the end
of the round. In some respects, Sahr was lucky to even
get into the playoff as Saini finally ran out of steam
with a bogey-double bogey-bogey finish. The two went
back to the first tee and played a sudden death playoff.
On the par five 1st, Saini looked to be in control just
behind the green with two monstrous shots while Sahr
lay 140 yards out. He calmly hit the green and made
par to square the hole while Saini sculled not one but
two chips. On the par 4 2nd, again Saini looked to walk
away with his second career major as he was safely on
the green in regulation while Sahr sat in the greenside
bunker. A dramatic sand save by Sahr which was a mere
two inches from ending the match pushed the hole and
sent the pair on to the 3rd hole.
Both combatants hit the fairway on the short par 4.
Saini’s forecaddy, brother Gurinder, was perched
just in front of the green to witness the finish. Sahr’s
9 iron was one of his ugliest strikes of the day, travelling
just 10 yards in the air and 135 on the ground to trickle
onto the green. Saini, disgusted by the blind luck,
regained his composure and stuck his wedge 15 feet from
the pin. Sahr then stepped up, closed his eyes, and
drained the putt of a lifetime from 40 feet away prompting
Saini to exclaim, “you suck!” When his own
putt fell short, the drama ended and a new champion
was crowned at Stow.
As Ryan Sahr gently fondled the replacement trophy,
a bronze likeness of a gnome holding a candle, he smiled
for the cameras and winked at Jack. The Wannamaker was
long forgotten.
The Associated Press, 2006-2007. All rights
reserved. |
