Fallout from 2002 Mongrel Masters - Harold P Ouvrier and King Bonser charged. "No one is above the laws" 

In what is seen as a sensational fall out from the 2002 Mongrel Masters, Board members Harold P Ouvrier and King Bonser have been charged for breaches  under the Mongrel Masters By-laws and Tournament Rules.

Accusations have been flying on and off the course about Harold's and King's conduct, normally not an unusual occurrence. What caught the attention and ire of  Executive Director Noni Scanlon was the alarming number of serious  complaints from a vast number of competitors about their behavior at the 2002 Mongrel Masters.

Both Harold and King are charged under Mongrel Masters By-Law 31. Code of Conduct Sub Sections 5,6 and 7 and By-Law 32 Mongrel Masters Disciplinary Procedure Sub sections i,ii,vi,xii and xvi. These charges are a direct result of  their alleged lack of sledging and the seriousness in which they played in the tournament.

With three rookies in his group, King, must have thought his Christmas' had come all at once having been able to do wonders with the pencil on his score card, but what he did not count on was that every member of his group complained about how nice a time they had and that the old hand never showed them the ropes when it came to sledging. "The King was a nice bloke. Not once did he sledge me." said Mexican Eeyaw Arai. While Canadian rookie Mountie MacLeod was less than impressed with the King "Eeyaw was playing only his second game of golf ever and should have won the Bradman Award  had King done his job. When I saw how serious King was about his round and that he wasn't sledging I did not bother either."

Harold's playing partner Butch Boyer was one of his complainants, "I came to the Mongrel Masters thinking that I would cop a gob full during my round. But Harold imitated Marcel Marceau. The only time I ever saw him or spoke to him was at the tee when he told us his score. The rest of the time he ran off after his ball and played on his own" 

Adding to Harold's woes are a series of additional charges that have been laid, which deal with By-Law 32 Mongrel Masters Disciplinary Procedure- "cheating at the rules of golf". Here Harold is alleged to have not claimed his ball lost on the 1st hole and dropped another ball in an advantageous lie and to have knowingly fabricated his score on the 6th hole even after being challenged. The other member of Harold's group, Red Colby recounts "I thought to myself, how long has this been going on? He was unbelievable."

It is believed that the duo are the first ever to be charged in the tournament's history and if found guilty can be fined, suspended or expelled.

"No one is above the laws. Not even Board members." said Scanlon. "I was really left with no choice given the number of witnesses and the severity of the charges. It was necessary for me to take this action to show to all our members that we are fair dinkum about the spirit in which this tournament is played."

Fellow Board member Chad Todd was scathing in his criticism of the pair. "They deserve to have the book thrown at them. I copped a lot of flack from those clowns about how they were disappointed in my sledging performance last year. Now they go out there and don't even make a squeak. Talk about a complete and utter sham. They have totally neglected there responsibility as Board members to uphold the Mongrel traditions. "

The accused have until 31 January to show just cause why they should not be found guilty of the charges.

In a move to propagate more sledging a new award will be initiated for 2003 of Best Sledger. "It's time that the core values of the Mongrel Masters are acknowledged and that someone who is deemed to have excelled at playing the man each year is rewarded for it" said Scanlon.

Click here for 2002 Results

Click here for the 2002 Mongrel Masters in Photographs

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