The new era of Otty is here. Gone are the days of wraps at the turn, a grueling 18 holes at Perth Golf Course for Raven to choke on, and Saturday 36 holes. For the firs time ever, the Otty Invitational will stretch over 3 days, and 3 different courses. Smiths Falls makes its DGA debut and Canadian Golf and Country Club returns for the first time since 2019, making this Otty one for the ages.

This may be the most open either division has ever been. DGA coach Griff has got many of the DGA, excluding Justin Hanes, playing some of the best golf of their life. However, expected babies, a bout of gout, sore hammys, torn labrums, and general out-of-shapeness will bring all the golfers back down to earth over this 3 day grind.

A division, like every year except one, is made up of the same 8 golfers. 2 teams that have played together, and 2 new combinations. Evan Hammond and Ben Milinkovich team up looking to re-create their 2022 record setting -10 score. Ryan Raven and Matt MacIntyre team up, also for the first time since 2022 where they came 2^nd place. The two new teams are Dillon James teamed up with Chad Keohane, and Casey Floyd teamed up with Kyle Craig.

B Division, like every year except one, is made up of 8 different golfers. Gary Drisdelle makes his DGA debut teaming up with Boomer Oviedo. Pat Theriault and Scott Quinn team up for the first time since 2022, where they look to improve on…*checks notes*…no final score entered. Cody Willcott and Justin ‘Zen’ Hanes team up for the first time, looking to not walk off the course if things go wrong. Last and not least are Brent Daviault and Ryan Dillon, who are also teaming up for the first time.

The moment everyone is looking forward to is the Champions Dinner, where Casey Floyd’s famous 3 hour baked burgers are being served along side Dillon James’ Smoked Mac’n’Cheese and potato salad. Rumour has it that Floyd is already pretzel brained for the whole week because of the dinner. According to GROK, this is what the burgers will look like.

Keys to Success:

A Division

Evan Hammond + Ben Milinkovich

Most are deeming this squad as the team to beat come the weekend. The duo boasts 6 Otty Green Jackets, but none since 2022 where they won together. Their game can compliment each other well, while Hammond is dealing with the chipping yips, he is dialed tee to green. Short game is all that former 1 seed Milinkovich still has in the bag so if he can contribute some stress free up and downs then this team will have a good shot at their 4^th Green Jacket come Sunday. The tee game will have to rely on Hammond, as Milinkovich Balls Lost off the Tee Percentage (BLOT%) is at 66% in his last 2 rounds.

Ryan Raven + Matt MacIntyre

Also teaming up for the first time since 2022, the Raven/MacIntyre duo will have to get over some big hurdles this weekend. The duo has a combined 1 Otty win (MacIntyre 2021), which is less than any other single player in the field. Raven, who likes to describe Connor McDavid as “not able to win the big one” will need a long hard look in the mirror before teeing it up at Otty. The only solace for Raven is that there is no Perth this year, so the level of demons will be considerably less. MacIntyre is bringing a brand-new putter to Otty in the hopes of a revitalization of his imagination around the greens. Both have had up and down seasons to start the year, but if the ying is yinging and the yang is yanging then don’t be surprised to see this team in contention come Sunday.

Dillon James + Chad Keohane

Dillon James is coming off his first ever Calabogie win, absolutely carrying his team to victory. He did his best to pretend he wasn’t the 2 seed during his DGA Match Play first round match, but unfortunately for him, the teams were already made. James is one of the defending champions this week, and is teamed up with a 2 time winner in Chad Keohane. Keohane is coming off a dominate 74 to win his first round DGA match play. This duo is probably the longest combined team in this year tournament, which will be a huge advantage at all 3 courses. This duo will have flip wedges in on most holes, so if their wedge game and putters are on, look for them in the winners circle.

Casey Floyd + Kyle Craig

Two of the biggest robots the game of golf has ever seen tee it up together this year. Casey ‘Broken Back but still hit 99% of Fairways’ Floyd and Kyle ‘I Play One Round a Year and Shoot 76’ Craig are an under the radar team. The games compliment each other perfectly and Floyd will be in every fairway, so Craig can unleash one of his 320yd drives. This team will have plenty of birdie looks, but will come down to the putting. In a recent 4 man scramble, Floyd self demoted himself in the putting rotation showing this teams one potential weakness. If putts are dropping, this team could sneak into the winners circle.

Score Projections

The scoring record is certainly in play this year. Subbing out a 36 hole day, and 18 at Perth for 2 considerably easier courses could see a PGA level of scoring. Like always, it will be the team playing the best and sinking putts that walks away with the green jackets.

Evan Hammond + Ben Milinkovich: -11

Ryan Raven + Matt MacIntyre: -10

Kyle Craig + Casey Floyd: -9

Dillon James + Chad Keohane: -9

B Division

Gary Drisdelle and Jason Oviedo

Gary Drisdelle makes his DGA debut, partnered with his old Nita Beer Panthers teammate Jason Boomer Oviedo. Not sure if 2 more opposite playing styles have ever teamed up, but as they say, opposites attract. Dris may be the best golfer on paper, but players making their DGA debut have never won. Wiley vet Oviedo will have to guide the young grasshopper through the grind that is a DGA event. If this duo can keep the ball in play and sink some putts, the green jacket should be theirs.

Brent Daviault and Ryan Dillon

Another team that are two very different players stylistically, these two have plenty of Otty experience. The only 2 players in the B Division that are Otty OGs, these two have had their share of ups and downs at the Otty. Dillon, who won the last Otty he played in, is finding his post lesson stride and will be a massive contributor with that patented fairway finder. Daviault, who is now a snotty member of the Royal Ottawa, will have to keep focus without a caddy and comfort station every two holes. If Daviault’s driver is on, and Dillon is his normally steady self, this team has a great shot at winning it all.

Cody Willcott and Justin Hanes

The biggest rivals these two will face this weekend is themselves. The DGA leaders in walking off the course, the Willcott/Hanes duo will have to take every single word of Zen Golf into consideration this tournament to have a shot. One early bogey could send these two into a never ending spiral. The games themselves are in a good spot, with Willcott and Hanes both playing some good golf at the moment. However, one call from either Lindsay or Em will have these two racing home faster than you can say gout. If they can keep a level head, and if Hanes can withstand the 3 day stank from Willcott, these two should be the favourites to win the Green Jackets.

Pat Theriault and Scott Quinn

These two have teamed up before, but it was a very different version of Scott Quinn. Arguably Girff’s greatest achievement, Quinn has cut his golf handicap in half and is coming off a career low 88, albeit at Greyhawk. The age old question of will his game travel is still certainly in the air. Theriault on the other hand is coming in hot after a big win in his match. The longest hitter in the DGA will look to bully the short courses this weekend, setting up his partner who is “dialed from 140 in”. If Theriault is dialed off the tee, this team will have birdie looks all week. Quinn has guaranteed winning, so lets see if he can come up big under pressure. As they say, first time for everything!

Score Projections

Just like the A Div, the scoring record is certainly in play. The B Div as a whole has gotten significantly better, and some easier courses will lead to low scores

Gary Drisdelle + Jason Oviedo: +19

Brent Daviault + Ryan Dillon: +20

Pat Theriault + Scott Quinn: +20

Cody Willcott + Justin Hanes: +20