Sometimes in lifeguard races, an oar, or the lack of one, makes a difference. For the Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol, it was the difference between taking the top spot and second place in the Ship Bottom Beach Patrol’s Jack Donlon Memorial Invitational tournament on July 30.

“I feel bad for our 1,000-foot rowers,” said Randy Townsend after the captain’s squad fell two points short of Brigantine, which won the tourney with 27 points.