Golf Genius ::

Perfect Autumn Day at Rock Hill!!

News Release by Christian Harrigan

Manorville, NY (October 5, 2019): The Long Island Golf Channel Amateur Tour (GCAT) visited Rock Hill Golf Course for the kickoff to the 2020 season and its first ever Stableford Scoring tournament. The start of the season marked the debut for several new members to the tour. Big thanks to all of our veteran recruiters - Joe Arnold{Stephen Pfeiffer}, Jeff Feldman{Anthony Ter Gevondyan}, Doron Pergament {Thomas Antonopolous}, & Kelly Penford{Neville Reece}. Gerard Hanshe also played his first tournament and did quite well.

With temperatures around 50 degrees to start the day almost all players came in layers and gradually shed them as the bright sunshine warmed things up. Stableford scoring added an interesting wrinkle, but not as profound as I think it can be given the right recipe. There weren’t any meaningful instances where a player with a lower stroke play score had a higher Stableford point total. For example, remarkably, or perhaps not, three players atop the Hogan flight Stableford points result {+28} all shot a 79 in stroke play. I think a course like the Vineyards, which yields a lot of birdies and some eagles, but also has quadruple bogey lurking on many holes, could cause the alternate scoring format to make a big impact.

Here are your top finishers for the first tournament of the 2020 season:

Championship Flight (to 3.9):

Dylan Sherwood (+27/80) prevailed in what was essentially a match play event with he and his champ flight competitor sharing the same pairing and golf cart. Dylan accrued most of his +27 Stableford points on the back 9 where he had two birdies and five pars. In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Championship Flight Trophy, Dylan earned a $40 Visa Gift Card.

Palmer Flight (4.0 – 7.9):

Joe Arnold (+29/78) unleashed once he crossed the parking lot from the front to back 9. From the 10th through 15th holes Joe carded 3 pars and two birdies, and shot even par 36 on the back 9. In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Palmer Flight Trophy, Joe earned an $80 Visa Gift Card.
Scott Kata (+24/83/26/12) prevailed in a match of cards over John Sheehan(+24/83/26/14) and Jesse Rosenstock (+24/85) to earn the second place prize, a $40 Visa Gift Card. In case you were wondering the tie breakers, in a Stableford event it goes stroke play total, back 9, last 6, final three. Then if needed we would go performance on the final hole and then progressively through performance on the most difficult handicap holes to par. A key shot in Scott’s round was a short-sided hole out birdie pitch on the par three 17th.

Hogan Flight (8.0 – 11.9):

Alan Navarro (+28/79) prevailed in a one hole playoff(par) over Eddie McCarthy to capture his first Golf Channel Hogan Flight Championship Trophy. Alan was in the first Hogan flight pairing and Eddie was in the last. As a result Alan waited a long time between competitive shots, making his playoff win even more impressive. Prior to the playoff Alan parred 10 holes and birdied one. In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Hogan Flight Trophy, Alan was awarded a $180 Visa Gift Card.
Eddie McCarthy(+28/79) picked up in the 2020 season where he left off in the 2019 season. Eddie earned third place honors at the Long Island Tour Championship in August and bettered that in the first tournament of the 2020 season. If the trend continues Eddie will win soon. Eddie also carded 10 pars and one birdie in regulation play. For runner-up in the Hogan, Eddie earned a $100 VIsa Gift Card.
Alex Lundqvist (+28/79) needed to tee off and leave early, so he was unable to compete in a playoff for the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener championship. As a result, Alex earned third place honors by default, a $50 Visa GIft Card. I regulation play Alex earned a point on 17/18 holes, with only one double bogey, eight pars, and one birdie.
Richard Sayage (+27/80) prevailed in a match of cards(stroke play score) over Jeff Feldman to earn the fourth place prize, a $40 Visa Gift Card. Richard had more pars(12) than any other competitor in the field!
Jeff Feldman (+27/82) birdied a hole on both the front and back 9 and sprinkled in plenty of pars around them. For fourth place Jeff earned a $30 Visa Gift Card.

Sarazen Flight (12.0 – 15.9):

Kelly Penford (+23/84) shrugged off a double bogey on the first and earned points on each of the next 17 holes. Now that’s how you get it done in a Stableford scoring event! In addition to the In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Sarazen Flight Trophy, Kelly was awarded a $150 Visa Gift Card.
Joe Giglio (+20/88) earned points in 16/18 holes to earn second place honors in a match of cards over Nicholas Martin. As runner-up Joe earned a $75 Visa Gift Card.
Nicholas Martin(+20/89) shrugged off a double bogey start and went one under par over his next three holes, including a birdie at the par 3 4th. For third place, Nicholas earned a $45 Visa Gift Card.
Chad Haverty(+19/89/46) earned the fourth place prize, a $30 Visa Gift Card in a match of cards over Wain Lee(+19/89/49).

Jones Flight (16.0 – 19.9):

Glenn Messapesa (+23/84) got off to an electric start with two birdies on his front 9. Glenn played solid golf on the way into the house and earned a 3 point Stableford victory. In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Jones Flight Trophy, Glenn was awarded a $150 Visa Gift Card. He also cleaned up in the Skins, achieving the only Jones/Snead birdie to hold up on the day.
Leon Gorman (+20/88) achieved his best Golf Channel finish, making it a one two punch for the good buddies(Kelly Penford) from across the pond. Leon’s stellar back 9 included four pars and point earning bogeys on the five other holes. for second place Leon earned a $75 Visa Gift Card.
Gerard Hanshe (+19/88) showed no signs of nerves in his first Golf Channel tournament and played particularly well in the middle of the back 9 where he parred three of four holes(13th-16th). For third place honors Gerard was awarded a $45 Visa Gift Card.
Gregory Schulze (+17/97) birdied the par 3 which was the highlight of a round that netted the fourth place prize, a $30 Visa Gift Card.

Snead Flight (20.0 – Above):

Don Race (+20/87) achieved an astounding 10 shot stroke play margin. Don carded 6 pars on the day, including closing in style with pars on the 17th and 18th holes. It looks like DOn has picked up where he left off, earning victory in the first tournament of the 2020 season after a second place finish at the 2019 Long Island Tour Championship in August. In addition to the Rock Hill Stableford Autumn Opener Snead Flight Trophy, Don was awarded an $80 Visa Gift Card.
Patrick Reid (+14/97) carded three pars, including on two of the par 3s(7th & 13th). For his solid play Patrick earned a $40 Visa Gift Card.

Closest-To-The-Pin

Joe Gentile knocked it to 13”on the 7th hole. Jason Mazzarone came fairly close to another hole in one(15”) on the 13th. Ozzie Ross hit a laser to just 2’3” on the 17th.

Skins

Champ/Palmer/Hogan Flight - Jeff Suarez (2nd), Alan Navarro (8th), Joe Arnold (14th), John Glidden (16th), Dylan Sherwood (18th)
Sarazen Flight – Nicholas Martin (4th), Jason Mazzarone (13th)
Jones/Snead Flight – Glenn Mezzapesa (6th)

Giant Skins

Jeff Suarez (2nd), Alan Navarro (8th), Jason Mazzarone (13th), Joe Arnold (14th), John Glidden (16th), Dylan Sherwood (18th)

Our next tournament is next Monday, October 14th(Columbus Day) at Harbor Links in Port Washington. Hope to see you there.

Congratulations again to all of our winners!

Christian Harrigan

Tour Director

NY Long Island