The best week of the year is almost here! The 2023 Otty will be sure to be one of the best yet. The roster for this year’s event will be much different than last year, with a new rookie making his Otty debut, an OG vet returning to glory, and a man finally getting his life long wish of playing in the A Division.
Newcomer Alex Lajeunesse will be making not only his Otty debut, but it will be his first DGA start. He has already been warned that he will be drugged and forced to drink until he is “cross eyed” from DGA vets Scott Quinn and Ryan Dillon. No one knows more about how the drinking can affect your game than Dillon, who completely lost his game after being a “good host” at the 2022 Fall Classic, so look for this premonition to come true.
After the change in schedule for the 2022 Otty, this year’s event is back to the classic 36 hole Saturday at Mapleview, followed by the final round at Perth on Sunday. The switch last year threw some players into a frenzy and had Ryan Raven and Evan Hammond both glad that they couldn’t choke on Sunday at Perth.
While the tournament is still a few weeks away, the hot weather has Matt MacIntyre already worried about the firmness and speeds of the greens, especially the famed turtle backs of Mapleview. Without much check or spin in his game, MacIntyre prefers the soft, wet conditions he is used to at his home course of Carleton, where he and fellow A div members Pat Theriault and Chad Keohane boost their confidence. If the first few weeks of June have some rain, it could greatly benefit that trio.
Just like every year, the tournament will come down to the back 9 on Sunday. The team that wins is typically the team that is mentally the strongest. The Otty is about much, much more than tee shots and putts. It is whats between the ears that matters most. The grind of 54 holes over 30 hours is not for everyone, and only the strongest come out on the other side.
A Division
This year’s A Division has the makings to be one of the tightest tournaments ever. All years are tight, but typically have favourites going in. This year it is truly anyone’s game, with all 4 teams having a legit chance at the plaque.
The DGA as a whole is getting better, and the winning scores year over year show that. Take out the weak +1 winning score of Casey Floyd and Evan Hammond in 2020, the last 3 winning scores have been -4, -5, and the tournament record -10 last year. Look no further than A Divisions newest member Pat Theriault, who has become a member at Carleton Golf and Yacht (Who is too good and “prestigious” to host a DGA event) and seen his handicap plumet. He will join #1 seed Evan Hammond who is looking for his 4th straight Otty Lake championship. The main hurdle for the Hammond and Theriault squad will be internal bickering.
On the other end of the spectrum is Ben Milinkovich, who may be the only DGA member moving backwards. After completing his free fall from the #1 seed all the way down to the #8 seed, Milinkovich is coming into Otty as the #7 seed. One thing going for him is that he is fresh, only playing 1 full round in the last 10 months after breaking his arm last August. The broken arm did not stop him from competing at the Fall Classic, but playing through the injury may have a lasting effect. Milinkovich will be joined by the DGA bridesmaid, Ryan Raven. Raven is on an even more impressive streak than Hammond, coming 2nd place an astounding 5 straight years. This team does have some history together, back in 2017 the duo teamed up for Raven’s only DGA win at the now defunct Greyhawk Invitational (thanks a lot Ryan Raven, Evan Hammond, Casey Floyd). They are hoping lightning does strike twice, and they can get Raven over the Otty hump for the first time.
2 time winner Kyle Craig teams up with 1 time winner Chad Keohane. This will be their first time together at Otty, but this squad has had big wins in the past. Like Raven and Milinkovich, this team has won the Greyhawk Invitational together, putting together one of the best back 9s in DGA history en route to their 2019 win. Although Otty has not been their friend the last few years, these two come in as the slight favourites. A team with a long history together and chemistry is always a tough beat at Otty. As long as Craig does not want to Keeeermit at the end of Saturday, this team should be near the top.
The final team rounding out the field is Casey ‘Eeyore’ Floyd and Matt MacIntyre. The team got off to a rocky start at the team announcement, where Floyd’s immediate reaction was…..not great to say the least
The team is forging forward though and will have a great shot at taking home the championship. Both have 1 Otty win under their belts, riding the coat tails of Hammond for wins in 2020 (Floyd) and 2021 (MacIntyre). For this team to have a shot, Robot Casey will have to make an appearance and MacIntyre will have to continue his impressive streak of creativity around the greens.
Keys to Success
Evan Hammond and Pat Theriault.
While this team may not have tons of history together on the links (only teamed up for an abysmal May Manderley Mayhem showing), they go way back off the course as Theriault was the best man at Hammonds wedding in 2022. Hammond will have to remember this bond and friendship while taking deep breaths and explaining to Theriault’s that they should not use Theriault’s tee shot that is 40 yards left and 60 yards behind Hammond’s. And no, it does not have a “better line”. Theriault will be the key to this team’s success. We all know what Hammond can do, but Theriault will have to chip in (pardon the pun) if this team wants to take home the crown on Sunday. After a record setting win streak, Hammond is coming in a bit cold to Otty with an 8th place finish at the Fall Classic, and tied for last at the Calabogie. Even with the 3 straight Otty wins, Hammond has had to rely heavily on his partners in years past. The fairways at Mapleview and Perth are not your wide open cow pastures that Hammond is used to at his home course of Greyhawk. Hammond and Theriault fear Otty so much so, it has come to light that the team is using a non-DGA sanctioned, illegal app to gain a technological advantage over the other competitors. There will be more to come on this breaking story
Short game has not been Theriault’s friend in the past, but he will need to sharpen that skill to help Hammond the most. If Hammond is on his A game, he alone can win the tourney. With even some help from Theriault it would be no surprise if this team hoists the plaque on Sunday.
Ryan Raven and Ben Milinkovich
The biggest hurdle Ryan Raven will face is mental. He has the game to get it done, it just hasn’t happened quite yet. The game itself has been all over the map, literally and figuratively, but all it takes is a good 2 days to become Otty champions. Ben Milinkovich also has his work cut out for him. The spray and pray tactic can only go so far at Otty, and unfortunately for this team, both players suffer from an army miss. The good news is that this team’s game compliments each other well, as both, when on their game, are well rounded players that can help in all aspects of the game. Milinkovich has won Otty a record tying 3 times, so he will have to guide the inexperienced Raven to the winner’s circle. As always, if they get some lucky bounces and some clutch putting, this team has a real shot to de-throne Hammond.
Kyle Craig and Chad Keohane
Even though this team is the slight betting favourites coming in, they will not be without their hurdles. Craig is confirmed staying at the cottage for the first time since his infamous ‘green out’, where he sat in silence for a world record 7.5 hours (felt like 7.5 days if you ask him). Keohane is no stranger to the late-night fires, but he will have to make sure his teammate is tucked away nice and early if they want to take the title. A quick Golf Canada handicap lookup will show a solid start to the year for Keohane, consistently firing in the mid-80s. The majority of these rounds coming at the pompous Carleton Golf and Yacht Club or whatever they call it. The main key for this team will be keeping the ball in bounds off the tee. Both players are typically solid off the tee, but when it goes south, it goes south in a hurry. If they can do that and come up with some clutch putting, they will be in the winner’s circle on Sunday.
Casey Floyd and Matt MacIntyre
This team may be the biggest wild card coming into the Otty weekend. Last reports have Floyd considering euthanasia even before the tournament begins. MacIntyre on the other hand is coming in hot, stating that he has never been more confident off the tee. He also states that he has the most check on Tour, so you have to take everything he says with a grain of salt. Speaking of salt, Floyd will be coming into Otty with a chip on his shoulder after being unanimously labeled the #1 sandbagger in the DGA. Unlucky for him, the Otty is not a handicapped event. There are some positives for this squad though as their games play off each other very well. Floyd can be long off the tee and have great iron play, and MacIntyre at times can have great short game and approach game. If the stars align, don’t be surprised to see this team at the top of the leaderboard.
Predictions
This year may be the toughest tournament to predict, as all teams have a shot at winning. It will come down to mental and physical strength as the tournament moves on, and as always, who makes the makeables.
Craig/Keohane: -6
Floyd/MacIntyre: -4
Raven/Milinkovich: -4
Hammond/Theriault: -4
B Division
Unlike the A Division, there is a heavy favourite heading into this weekend. That doesn’t mean the B Division is not riddled with potential story lines though.
Even more so than the A Division, the B flight’s tournament is not all about the on-course scores. The B Division loves to play mind games with a side of sabotage at the fire pit on Friday and Saturday night. Savvy vets like Ryan Dillon, Scott Quinn, Justin Hanes, and Jason Oviedo will do whatever it takes to give their team the advantage.
The 4 teams are made up of 2 teams without Otty wins, (Dillon/Oviedo and Lajeunesse/Daviault) and 2 teams with past champs**** (van Donselaar/Theriault and Quinn/Hanes****).
Newcomer Alex Lajeunesse won’t know fully what to expect until he gets there on Friday night and is handed a 12% black sludge “beer” from defending champ Berry Van Donselaar. OG Otty crew teammate Brent Daviault is known to be in bed at 9:30, and will not even be at the cottage on Friday night so at least one of the teammates will be fresh heading into Saturday.
Dillon has already stated that he will not be drinking at the fire and he is “there to win” but we all know that is a bigger boost than Pat Theriault’s drops.
As much as the shenanigans around the fire play a part, there is still golf to be played and like every year, anything can happen in the B Div.
Richard Theriault teams up with big-man Berry Van Donselaar in what is by far the most decorated B Division team, with a combined 3 Otty wins. This is a first-time partnership for the two, but could be a successful one. Both are long off the tee and can find an iron and short game every so often.
Two relatively inexperienced partners team up in Lajeunesse and Daviault. This is Daviault’s third Otty, but first since 2017. He did win a DGA event last season, picking up the W at the inaugural Fall Classic. However, playing off an illegitimate handicap, and playing with the Sandbag King Casey Floyd, we’ll have to notch that up as a half victory. Daviault can show Lajeunesse the DGA ropes, but sometimes inexperience is a blessing. Not knowing the rich, deep history of the Otty, or the prestige that comes along with being a winner can have ‘Laj’ playing loose and easy. The 12 blunts won’t hurt either.
Ryan Dillon and Jason Oviedo team up once again in 2023. Team ‘Sticky Bandits’ as they like to call themselves, are the big favorites coming in. As a team last year, they finished a solid 2nd place, in what was Oviedo’s first crack at the Otty. With a year of experience, and 3000 more cigarettes under his belt, Oviedo is poised to win his first Otty. His DGA career is off to a great start, with a win and two 2nd place finishes. Dillon has one win to his name as well, but both are still looking for their first major win.
Justin Hanes and Scott Quinn round out the B Division and have a history of playing together. They are here to “Erase the Asterisk” of 2019, where they won the one and only handicapped Otty event. Getting 48 strokes, the Quinn and Hanes duo took the Theriault brothers to the final hole, before the pressure was too much and the Theriaults imploded. Now playing straight up, this team will have to battle some mental demons if they want to etch their names on the trophy for real this time
Keys to Success
Ryan Dillon and Jason Oviedo
The Sticky Bandits just need to play their game and they will have success. Both are not long, but very reliable off the tee. Just keeping the ball in the short grass should be enough for these ageless wonders. Both are looking to become the oldest major winner in DGA history! The duo has had a long life of playing together, so chemistry will be no problem. The only thing that would prevent this team the title is if Dillon goes full Fall Classic mode and self-sabotages. Which is a very, very real possibility. He is known to stay in the parking lot until 3am on a Thursday to win a hyjinx, so who knows what will happen come Otty… The only weakness of this team may be length off the tee, but neither course is overly long so their accuracy should more than make up for any length lost off the tee. As long as this team keeps it in play, they should have their names on the trophy in no time.
Berry van Donselaar and Richard Theriault
This team will have to play off their past successes and find some magic this year. Both players are long off the tee, but can have a problem finding the fairway at times. A member from this team has been on the winning team each of the last 3 years, so it’s certainly not out of the question. The key for this team will be not missing at the same time. If they can avoid drops, hit some clutch putts, and dial in the approach game, they just might be able to make it 4 years in a row. There have also been some rumours that Theriault is planning to slow his pace down even more as a tactic to pretzel brain his opponents. If he can break out this strategy while not affecting his own game, his playing partners may be in for a long day. The biggest key may be van Donselaar’s sleeping arrangement. He is known to pitch his own tent, so if he gets a good rest and doesn’t blow his back out, this team should have no problems competing.
Scott Quinn and Justin Hanes
The overconfident Quinn and underconfident Hanes team up yet again looking to write their names in the history books in pen this time. It is somewhat of a blind leading the blind squad, but magic can happen, especially at the Otty. Hanes comes in as the surprise #1 seed as his game has flourished, and the likes of Pat Theriault and Cody Willcott are not in the field. Hanes is coming off back to back rounds in which he made a birdie for the first time in his career, yet is still “on sui watch”. Hanes will have to have his A game off the tee if this team want to play meaningful golf on Sunday. Quinn’s soft touch around the greens, along with some potential fire pit shenanigans will be imperative as well. Quinn claims to be a ‘team guy’ but will have to do much more than bring sandwiches to get this team over the hump. If Quinn can find some tee game and help on approach shot, then this team may have a shot, but without that they will need a miracle.
Alex Lajeunesse and Brent Daviault
The only people that may not know what to expect more from this team than me, is Daviault and Laj themselves. Both come into Otty without many, if any, rounds under their belts for the year. Like the Theriault and van Donselaar squad, this team is a couple of bombers. They should have no problem getting off the tee, but getting down to the short strokes may be the challenge for this team. If they can find a way to have a solid short game then they could shock the world and take home their first Otty win. Daviault will be very well rested on both nights, as his latest career DGA bed time is 9:45pm. This may be an under the radar key as all other members of the B Division may go to bed dead. If Daviault is able to keep his eyes on the prize, this team may come out on top.
Predictions
The B Division is much harder to handicap, due to the handicaps, but all 4 teams have a chance. A hole out, a miracle birdie, a lost ball, or a long putt may be the difference maker in who comes out on top
Dillon/Oviedo: +38
Lajeunesse/Daviault: +50
Theriault/van Donselaar: +54
Quinn/Hanes: +55
Degens Golf Association 