The biggest tournament of the year is finally here! The Masters, US Open, and the Catalina Wine Mixer all in on event, the Otty Lake Invitational. The pinnacle of sport is bringing out the best golf the DGA has ever seen.

After a 2 year hiatus from the winner’s circle, Evan Hammond has opened up the DGA to all other contenders. An astounding 12 DGA members have a win more recently than Hammond. That, along with the lessons from Griff have given some DGA members some false confidence heading into Otty.

With almost half the DGA taking lessons since last years event, 2024 could bring some of the lowest scores in DGA history. -10 for A Div and +28 for B Div are both very in play.

There are plenty of story lines heading into the 2024 tourney, including a newcomer in Chris Chojnacki, a team looking to be the first ever A Div back to back champs, and Evan “Scratch” Hammond returning to glory.

The pre tournament shenanigans have begun already. Some golfers including Cody Willcott and Justin Hanes are going the possum route, by playing some truly horrendous golf and claiming the other teams have already won. On the other hand, players like Scott Quinn, Casey Floyd, Pat Theriault and Evan Hammond are setting records left, right and center, trying to strike fear into their opponents hearts.

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

Unlike last year, this years installment of the Otty Lake Invitational does have a very heavy favourite. It’s not often that the favourites lean in to that title, but this year is a very different story. Both Matt MacIntyre and Evan Hammond have called at least a 2 shot victory, with some saying that they might win by 10 strokes. The only thing that can bring this team down is an inter-team political fight, or a tainted midnight mayo sandwich (watch out Ev)

Kyle Craig and Chad Keohane team up once again looking to go back-to-back. This team may be the freshest of the bunch with Kyle Craig coming in with only 2 rounds under his belt, albeit a DGA Match Play domination of Ben Milinkovich and a DGA win at Calabogie. Keohane also comes in with a fresh body after moving out to Orleans and only has been able to squeeze in 3.5 round thus far. This team knows how to win scrambles though, so if any team is to upset the big dogs, it could be them

Dillon James and Casey Floyd team up for the first time at Otty, and are both coming in playing some great golf. Floyd has 8 birdies** in his last 2 rounds (** at GreyHawk) and James is coming in hot off 2 80s in his last 3 rounds. If Robot Casey and Luck of the Turtle DJ show up this year, they make be able to sneak their 2^nd career Otty wins.

Wrapping up A div is another repeat team from 2023, in Ben Milinkovich and Ryan Raven. They finished on the opposite end of the spectrum as Craig and Keohane last year, but worked all offseason on a new game plan for 2024. After trying the “Miss at the Same Time” strategy in 2023, the Milinkovich and Raven duo will try and do the opposite this year. Both have had up and down starts to the season, and will need to both be on the get Raven that coveted first green jacket.

Keys to Success

Evan Hammond and Matt MacIntyre

Literally the only thing this team needs to do is not kill each other over a political debate. If they can refrain from that, it will take a miracle for anyone else to catch this team. MacIntyre has been electric off the tee with his 3 wood, and his solid short game will help Hammond. The 80% shank rate on MacIntyre’s irons should not be too much of an issue with Mr. 0.4 hanidcap Hammond anchoring the approach shots. This team has no glaring weaknesses, and many strengths. The weather may be a factor however and can provide a leveling of the playing field. With rain in the forecast, and neither of these two known as mudders by any stretch, the other 3 teams are doing their rain dance heading into the weekend.

Kyle Craig and Chad Keohane

This team plays the perfect scramble golf. They both occasionally miss, but never at the same time. Last year in their 208 shots, each contributed exactly 104* (*provided by DGA StatCast) which is the perfect way to play scramble golf. Craig and Keohane are both lethal off the tee, solid irons and wedge players, and streaky putters. This has all the makings for these two to take home their 2^nd straight green jacket. Craig is coming in hot as the defeding champ of both Otty and the 2024 Calabogie.

Casey Floyd and Dillon James

This duo is coming in playing the best combined golf at the moment and will need to continue that to be in contention come Sunday. Floyd leads the DGA in fairways hit at 97.3% and James is 3^rd on Tour in driving distance at 291.4yds. This is a dangerous combo if Floyd can be safely in the fairway and let DJ try to bomb one. This team has strengths all over but it always comes down to shortgame. James has been working tirelessly this offseason with DGA teacher Griff Jones Golf and that could be the edge that puts this team over the top. However, if there is a drop of rain, and/or one snake seen all weekend, this team will come last by 10-15 strokes.

Ryan Raven and Ben Milinkovich

This is the biggest “who the hell knows” team of A div. This team could go -10 if they are on, or +10 in a heartbeat. As expected, both have had a very up and down season with Raven having a range of 73-86 and Milinkovich having a range of 80-95. If the 73 and 80 team shows up they have a chance, if it’s the 86-95 team, they can take Sunday off. For the first time in 5 years, Raven is coming in without being the runner up the year before, which should lead to a clear mind heading into this years tournament. Could this be the year Raven gets the ever elusive first green jackey?

Projected Scores

Evan Hammond + Matt MacIntyre:  -8

Kyle Craig + Chad Keohane:  -5

Ryan Raven + Ben Milinkovich: -3

Casey Floyd + Dillon James: -3

B Division

This may be the most open the B Division has ever been. Unlike the A Div, last year had heavy favourites that took it home, but this year is truly anyone’s tournament. 4/8 participants in the B Div this year have taken lessons, so this could be an all time low winning score.

The Theriault brothers are teaming up once again, which could mean some fireworks, good or bad, on the course this weekend. The brothers are going in a bit of different directions with their golf games lately, with Pat posting some of his best scores of his career, and Rich, well not playing golf at all. The younger Theriault is coming off a win at Calabogie in May and could parlay that into a great start in the Degens Cup standings for 2024.

Cody Willcott and Scott Quinn once again team up but this year feels different that all other years, for a number of reason. Quinn has seen Golf Guru Griff and has posted his best stretch of golf of his career by far. Willcott on the other hand is in one of the lowest lows of his life, and has vowed to retire from golf after Otty. He is coming off an 87* (*at GreyHawk) which hopefully has him in high spirits coming into Otty, but anyone that knows Willcott knows that if shot 1 doesn’t go absolutely perfect it might be game over. Quinn may have to play psychiatrist as well as turf repair man if Willcott gets to a dark place.

Justin Hanes and Jason Oviedo team up for the first time with some having them coming in as the betting favourites. Health will be a big factor for this squad as both are nursing bad backs. Just like Quinn, Oviedo may have to play psychiatrist as Hanes is known to get into a very dark place, especially since the newly leaked video of him on the verge of a massive rage came to light. This team may not have a bomber, but both are very consistent and they should be able to avoid any big number. Slow and steady wins the race.

Berry van Donselaar and somewhat of a newcomer Chris Chojnacki round out the B Div. Chojnacki is making his first full Otty debut, but has played a final round Sunday at Perth, replacing Pat Theriault back in 2018. The B Div vets will be trying to get in his head, and in his cup on Friday night, as they know the grind of a day the Saturday can be. If they can have him hurting come Saturday morning, that will be a win for the other groups. Van Donselaar himself is just looking to survive Otty, as the last 2 tournaments have seen him injure his wrist, then almost die in the glizzy/dip/booze/sun/gummy induced coma.

Keys to Success

Pat Theriault and Rich Theriault

While this team may be the combined longest off the tee, they are also the furthest in the woods. According to DGA StatCast, the brothers lost a combined 22 golf balls over 27 holes at Calabogie. That may work in 4 man scramble, but in 2 man, a dropped ball is a death sentence. If the brothers want to come home with the green jacket, one of them will have to step back off the driver and have a safe play. Is it likely? No. Is it needed? Absolutely. The short game of this tandem is inconsistent but will be a big factor this weekend. Pat has finally hit a good stride with the putter, but a week before Otty has decided to put a new putter in the bag, which is….a choice. If he can stay hot with the flat stick, and Rich can, pardon the pun, chip in with some offset foot chips, then this team has a good shot to be rocking the green on Sunday

Cody Willcott and Scott Quinn

Depending on which day of the week it is, Quinn will either label the green jackets theirs, or be calling this team the biggest underdogs in tournament history. While normally this would just be chalked up to Quinn being a clown, he may have a point with the emotional rollercoaster that is Cody Willcott. Less than a week ago he was playing whack-a-mole on the 6^th hole at Kanata, but followed it up with a solid 87* (*at GreyHawk).  If Willcott is his usual dynamite self, and with the new found traj of Quinn. This team will be a serious contender come Sunday. The only thing holding them back is whats between the ears.

Justin Hanes and Jason Oviedo

This team may not be the flashiest, but there are not pictures on a scorecard. Both these players are consistent in every facet of the game and compliment each other nicely. Oviedo will be puffing his chest out nicely as the only defending champ in the B field this year, after 2023 teammate Ryan Dillon had to withdraw with a wonky back. Oviedo will need to use his savviness to keep Hanes in the moment and not battling his inner demons. If this team can avoid the big score and just chug along, they may sneak ahead of some teams and be in the winner’s circle come Sunday

Berry van Donselaar and Chris Chojnacki

The main thing this team needs to avoid is losing the tournament on Friday evening, like van Donselaar unfortunately did last year. Teams that rock the green jackets walk a fine line at the fire on the Friday and Saturday night. Enough to be loose in the morning, but not too much to not be able to throw some darts. Chojnacki has never gone through the full grueling 54 grind, but will learn quick it is a marathon, not a sprint. If van Donselaar can tame him tee shots and provide some patented “Rain Man” short game, this team very well could be champs come Sunday

Projected Scores

Pat Theriault + Rich Theriault:  +20

Cody Willcott + Scott Quinn:  +20

Justin Hanes + Jason Oviedo: +20  **loses first playoff hole after Hanes whiffs 3 times

Chris Chojnacki + Berry van Donselaar: +20