Thendara - Fantastic weather found the Thendara/Old Forge area for the 2003 rendition of the Father Leon Hart Thendara Classic. This year's field counted 20 players, including defending champions Rick Stewart (Overall) and Musa Tannous (Seniors). When all was said and done, more was said than done by the majority of the field as Mike Neary and John Wise simply ran away with the tournament titles in the Overall and Seniors respectively.

Mike set a new 3-day low net scoring record of 188 to absolutely polish off the field in Tiger Woods-esque fashion. Mike kept his swing online all week with tallies of 89-89-85 to play well under his 25 handicap. Runner-up Ed Henry was a mere 21 shots behind at 209! The previous 3-day low net record was set 15 years ago by Doug Hart at 190. Doug is still playing great golf as his 210 net tied him with Big Todd Ford and Pete Sullivan of the Boston Beauties for 3rd place. Doug's gross total of 246 tied him with Rick Stewart for the mythical Keller Championship which acknowledges the best scratch golfer in the tourney.

John Wise manhandled the Senior Challenge Division to win by a dozen strokes over sophomore sensation Peter Elliott. Wise put the Seniors well behind him with an all-time personal Thendara best of 92 gross in the 2nd round. Elliott, sporting 55 less pounds on his frame, played well in the tourney and finished 10th in the Overall. Defending Seniors champion Tannous placed third as the repeat jinx continues to be a yearly fixture at Thendara.

As always the tournament served its purpose of bringing golfing friends and family together in the splendor of this Adirondack setting. The cookouts at Nick's Lake were full of laughter, food, and booze as deer and even bears roamed the area. World renown chef Andy Hart drove up on Tuesday from home to help brother Matt cook at the annual steak roast, which was excellent as usual. The Boston Beauties continue to bring their fun loving ways with them as they truly enjoy themselves, whether on the course or at the local drinking holes. Former Commissioner Tom Hart rode around the course as a ranger and dispenser of fructose so as to keep the speed of play moving along at a rightful clip. Dave Rebholz Sr. was sure to have a memorable tourney as he brought his sons Dave Jr. and Steve with him this year as a nice touch.

The Best Round of the Tourney this year would undoubtedly be Todd Ford's Monday effort of 77. Todd fired a beautiful 1-over 37 on the Front 9 and kept it together nicely on the tricky Back 9 to shoot the splendid score. Also worthy of note is Mike Neary's 85 on Day 3. Stellar straight play and timely putting put the final touches on his record-setting round while playing with the big boys Doug Hart and Todd Ford.

Finally, the Shot of the Tourney was registered by fan favorite Musa Tannous. On Wednesday, Moosey found the left side bunker of the infamous Indian Burial Ground Hole #9. Legend has it that there is a Cadillac buried under the center of this par 3. Musa looked to advance the ball toward the green only to blam a Sammy Sosa-like sand wedge into the restaurant. That is correct. Not near the restaurant or practice area, but literally into the open door of the restaurant where it playfully struck the bar and careened into the dining area near the couches. The waitress on duty aided in the finding of the ball so that Musa could order a sandwich, drink, light up a cigar, and put the finishing touches on his triple bogey. All the while Musa kept his sense of humor and smile. As Musa says "Sometimes you are the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you." Yep, sometimes you have to grin and "bear" it.