A Beautiful Day at Middle Bayl!

 

News Release by Christian Harrigan

 

Oceanside,  NY (October 19, 2019):   The NY Long Island Golf Channel Amateur Tour (GCAT) visited Middle Bay, a course known for its water views, wind, and spectacular greens that run fast and true.  In the previous three fall tournament we had one day of relatively benign conditions, and thankfully, Saturday was our second. The skies were filled with bright sunshine and the temperature was in the 50s, maybe 60, with minimal wind.   Middle Bay is a fairly challenging golf course, but those who can keep it in play and get the putter going stand a fair chance of performing well. Winning scores were right on target in each flight, save the Hogan flight, where one player went exceptionally low, and overtime was needed to determine the champion in both the Championship and Palmer.  

 

Thanks to all competitors.   Here are your top finishers for the third  tournament of the 2020 season:

 

 

Championship Flight (0.0– 3.9):

  • Bob Lanza (81) topped Dave Thomas in a battle that went 19 holes, as it did the previous week at Harbor Links.  Bob started the round with a birdie, and on the back 9 carded five consecutive pars, with one a birdie on the par 5 13th.  In addition to the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Championship Flight clock, Bob was awarded a $60 Visa Card.   

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9)

  • Joe Arnold (82) wasted no time tallying a playoff win after a disappointing result in a playoff the prior week at Harbor Links.    This was Joe’s second win in just three 2020 tournaments and he stands atop the Palmer Flight merit point standings. In addition to the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Palmer Flight clock, Joe was awarded a $120 Visa Gift Card.  

  • Walter Utzman (82) brought the good vibes from a summertime win at Middle Bay several years ago and almost completed his mission, just being edged out by Joe Arnold on the 19th hole.  Walter parred the first and last three holes of the day and played consistently throughout, shooting 41 on the front and back 9. Walter was awarded a $60 Visa GIft Card for runner-up in the Palmer.   

Hogan Flight (8.0 – 11.9):

  • Jonathan Sinowitz (75) shot par or better on 14 holes and registered nothing higher than a bogey 5 on all of the others.   Other top performing Hogans could do nothing but scratch their heads asking if there was anything else they could have squeezed out of their good round.  In addition to the satisfaction of shooting his personal best tournament score, Jonathan earned the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Hogan Flight clock and a $140 Visa Gift Card.  

  • Ryan Heyes (78) shot a score which is usually good enough to win in the Hogan flight.  Ryan recorded two birdies and eight pars. For second place Ryan was awarded a $70 Visa Gift Card.  

  • Alex Lundqvist (80) had more highlights than any other golfer on the day with four birdies, two of which earned him bog winnings in the skins contests.  For third place in the Hogan Alex was awarded a $40 Visa Gift Card.  

  • Joe Livingstron (81) birdied two holes on the back 9 to get in the Hogan Flight money, something the local Oceanside boy almost always achieves. For fourth place in the Hogan Joe earned a $30 Visa Gift Card.  

 

Sarazen Flight (12.0 – 15.9):

  • Doron Pergament (82) broke some hearts as he was the last Sarazen to turn in his scorecard.  Doron knows when it is winning time, and at Middle Bay he recorded two pars and a birdie in his final four holes.  In addition to the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Sarzen clock Doron was awarded a $140 Visa Gift Card.  

  • George E. Claffey III (85) invaded Long ISland from the land across the Sound and nearly sailed back home with a victory.  George’ parred holes in bunches with three in a row on the front 9 and four in a row on the back 9. For runner-up in the Sarazen George was awarded a $70 Visa Gift Card.   

  • John Serowick (86) earned third place honors in his first Golf Channel tournament.  John hit a controlled low fade off of the first tee and I knew he would be a force to be reckoned with from the get go.  For third place in the Sarazen John was awarded a $50 Visa Gift Card.   

 

Jones Flight (16.0 – 19.9):

  • Ron Raganella (85) went pin seeking from the get go.   A laser on the third hole was followed by another on the sixth, yielding Ron the first two closest to the pins.  I think this is the second time that one player won two closest to the pins. Ron rode his par 3 accuracy to yet another Golf Channel win.  Ron is right up there in all-time Long ISland Golf Channel wins with Karl Ramjeet of the Hogan. In addition to the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Championship clock Ron was awarded a $140 Visa Gift Card.  

  • Kaz Baig (87) parred seven holes and birdied another en route to a  runner-up finish in the Jones Flight. Kaz won at Middle Bay in 2018 showing he is definitely a horse for this course.  For second place honors Kaz earned a $70 Visa Gift Card.   

  • Michael Mardkha (91) topped Ken Golf in a match of cards for the third place prize, a $40 Visa Gift Card.  Michael also earned a good bit of loot in the closest to the pin competition too.

  • Ken Gold (91) earned a $30 Visa Gift Card for fourth place in the Jones.  While Ken is a Jersey resident, he plays on Long Island more frequently than 75% of Long Island Tour members, and he rarely takes the long drive home empty handed.  

 

Snead Flight (20.0 – Above):

  • Don Race (96) was able to stare all of his competitors in the eye, and in transcendent Don Race form, he prevailed.   The key to Don’s round were his four pars interspersed throughout the front 9. Don has three wins in 2019-2020 and is the clear merit point leader in the Snead flight.  In addition to the Middle Bay Autumn Challenge Snead Flight clock, Don was awarded an $80 Visa Gift Card.  

 

Closest-To-The-Pin

Ron Raganella hit a laser to 5’7” on the third and for an encore knocked it to 7’1.5” on the 6th.  Michael Mardkha scared the pin on the 16th with a tee shot that measured only 2’9” from the cup.  

 

Skins   

  • Champ/Palmer/Hogan Flight - Bob Lanza (1st), Alex Lundqvist (7th&9th, Ryan Heyes (8th),  

Paul Caperna (16th)

  • Sarazen Flight – Alan Fernandez (1st), Vijay Singh (5th), Kelly Penford (6th), 

Thomas Antonopoulos (17th)

  • Jones/Snead Flight – Joe Gentile a.k.a PAG (5th), Ken Golf (8th) 

 Giant Skins 

Bob Lanza (1st), Kaz Baig (3rd), Alex Lundqvist (7th & 9th), Paul Caperna (16th), Thomas Antonopoulos (17th)

Congratulations again to all of our winners!

 

Christian Harrigan

Tour Director

NY Long Island