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The Clash at the Gorge: Championship Drama as the 2026 Season Nears Its Finale
The Clash at the Gorge: Championship Drama as the 2026 Season Nears Its Finale
On Sunday, August 16th, the New Jersey Chapter of the Amateur Players Tour took on Great Gorge Golf Club in Vernon, New Jersey, for The Clash at the Gorge—an Elevated Event featuring an enhanced prize pool and double Local Player of the Year points.
With only two events remaining on the 2026 schedule, the stakes could not have been higher.
A strong field of 43 competitors arrived at Great Gorge knowing that every shot, every putt, and every point could have a major impact on the season-long races. For many players, this was an opportunity to make a move up the standings. For others, it was a chance to protect a hard-earned lead heading into the final stretch.
Great Gorge provided the perfect setting for the battle as players took on the Rail and Lake courses, a challenging combination featuring dramatic elevation changes, demanding tee shots, strategic approach play, and spectacular mountain views. While the scenery was breathtaking, the golf offered little margin for error.
And the weather added another layer of difficulty.
The day started hot and humid, making the opening holes physically demanding. With rain in the forecast, the goal was to keep play moving and get everyone across the finish line before the weather arrived. The light rain eventually made its way onto the course before play was complete, but it never stopped the competition. All 43 players were able to finish their rounds, battling through the changing conditions to complete The Clash at the Gorge.
With double Player of the Year points on the line, there was no shortage of drama.
The competition was particularly intense in Division 3 and Division 5, where the final results could not be decided in regulation. Both divisions required playoffs, with players battling under pressure for the win and those valuable points that could prove critical as the season reaches its conclusion.
From the opening tee shots to the final putts—and even through the light rain—players battled for every position. A single birdie could change the standings, while one costly mistake could have a major impact on the Player of the Year race.
The Clash at the Gorge delivered plenty of excitement, with players battling for both tournament payouts and valuable Player of the Year points. The event featured $1,000 in Division Skins and Super Skins, while $2,829 in total prize money was awarded across Divisions 1–5, Mid-Am Net, and Senior Net.
Division 1: Lee Dominates Division 1 with a 15-Shot Victory at The Clash at the Gorge
Division 1 delivered a hard-fought battle at The Clash at the Gorge, with players taking on the challenging Rail and Lake courses at Great Gorge Golf Club under hot, humid conditions and an approaching rainstorm.
When the final scores were posted, Charles Lee of Livingston, NJ emerged as the Division 1 champion with a 3-over-par 75, finishing 15 shots ahead of John Krawczyk, who carded a 90.
Lee’s round was highlighted by a strong finish on the back nine, where he posted a 38, including a birdie on the par-5 10th and a birdie on the par-4 12th. Despite a few challenges along the way, he maintained control of the round and secured a convincing Division 1 victory.
Congratulations to Charles Lee on a dominant Division 1 victory at The Clash at the Gorge!
Division 2: A Four-Stroke Battle for the Top: Peter Iosso Holds Off a Tight Division 2 Field
Division 2 produced one of the tighter battles of The Clash at the Gorge, with just four strokes separating the top four finishers in the seven-player field.
Peter Iosso came out on top with a solid 8-over-par 80, putting together a steady round to claim the Division 2 title. His back nine featured several key pars and a strong finish that allowed him to hold off the competition.
Behind him, Adam Gamble finished second, just two strokes back with an 82, while Aditya Simha followed at 83. Roy Choi rounded out the top four at 84, keeping the race within striking distance throughout the day.
With only four strokes separating the top four, there was little room for mistakes. Each player had to navigate the demanding Rail and Lake courses while also dealing with the heat, humidity, and eventual light rain.
In the end, Iosso’s 80 was enough to secure the Division 2 victory, but the close finish highlighted just how competitive the division was from start to finish.
Congratulations to Peter Iosso on his Division 2 victory at The Clash at the Gorge!
Division 3: Newcomer Logan Norris Wins a One-Hole Playoff in a Thrilling Division 3 Finish
Division 3 delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of The Clash at the Gorge, with the division title coming down to a playoff between Logan Norris and Michael Healy after both players posted impressive 11-over-par 83s.
For Norris, the victory was even more special as the newcomer from the Metro NY Chapter was playing in his very first APT event. After battling through the challenging Rail and Lake courses, Norris and Healy found themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard, setting up a sudden-death playoff.
It didn’t take long to determine a winner.
Norris claimed the Division 3 championship on the very first playoff hole, getting his APT career off to an impressive start and immediately making his mark in the division.
Healy settled for a well-earned second-place finish after matching Norris’ 83 in regulation.
Behind the playoff participants, Darren Barberio finished third with an 84, just one stroke behind the leaders. Nicholas Lazarchuck took fourth at 86, followed by Dylan D’Amato in fifth with an 88.
The top five were separated by just five strokes, highlighting the competitive nature of the division.
But it was the newcomer who ultimately stood tallest.
Congratulations to Logan Norris on an incredible APT debut and a Division 3 victory.
Division 4: Kurt Bonewitz Leads the Way in Division 4
Division 4 featured a competitive battle at The Clash at the Gorge, with the top four finishers separated by just five strokes.
Kurt Bonewitz claimed the Division 4 championship with an 86, putting together a strong overall round to finish three strokes clear of the field. Bonewitz’s steady play was enough to secure the top spot and add another division victory to his season.
Sal Leto finished runner-up with an 89, followed closely by David Conforth, who posted a 90 to take third.
The battle for fourth was particularly close, with Carmine L. Ciccarelli and Chris Kehoe both finishing at 91 and sharing fourth place.
With just five strokes separating the top four, Division 4 provided another tight leaderboard at Great Gorge and plenty of competition throughout the day.
Congratulations to Kurt Bonewitz on his Division 4 victory.
Division 5: David Neder Goes Back-to-Back with Another Division 5 Playoff Victory
Division 5 delivered another dramatic finish at The Clash at the Gorge, with the division championship once again requiring a playoff. David Neder and Keith Mather both finished regulation at 24-over-par 96, setting up a sudden-death battle for the title.
Neder entered Great Gorge with momentum, having captured the Division 5 title at our previous event at Rutgers University Golf Course. He wasn’t about to give it up easily.
After matching scores through 18 holes, Neder and Mather headed to a playoff, where it took just one hole to determine the winner. Neder came through once again, securing his second consecutive Division 5 victory and continuing an impressive run of form.
Mather put together a strong performance to finish runner-up, also posting a 96 before falling just short in the playoff.
Stephen Kraus rounded out the top three with a 98, just two strokes behind the playoff participants.
With back-to-back victories and another playoff win under his belt, David Neder has certainly found his stride at the perfect time of the season.
Congratulations to David Neder on another Division 5 championship.
Mid-Am Net: M Keith Mather Takes the Mid-Am Net Title with a 1-Over Net 73
The Mid-Am Net competition at The Clash at the Gorge featured some excellent scoring, with the top five players all finishing within just five net strokes of one another.
Keith Mather captured the Mid-Am Net championship with an impressive Net Score of 1-over net 73, finishing two strokes ahead of Nicholas Lazarchuck, who posted a Net Score 75 for second place.
A tie for third saw Carmine L. Ciccarelli and Stephen Kraus both finish at Net Score 76, while Aditya Simha and Dylan D’Amato shared fifth place at Net Score 78.
With just five strokes separating the top five, the Mid-Am Net leaderboard remained highly competitive throughout the event.
Congratulations to Keith Mather on taking the Mid-Am Net title, and to all of our top finishers on a strong performance at The Clash at the Gorge!
Senior Net: Kurt Bonewitz Posts a 2-Under Net 70 to Capture the Senior Net Title
The Senior Net competition at The Clash at the Gorge produced another strong performance from Kurt Bonewitz, who followed his Division 4 victory with an impressive 2-under net 70 to claim the Senior Net championship.
Bonewitz put together a steady round highlighted by several key pars and birdies, finishing two strokes ahead of Peter Iosso, who posted an even-par net 72 to take second.
Sal Leto continued his strong day with a 1-over net 73 to finish third, while David Conforth rounded out the top four at 2-over net 74.
It was an impressive showing from Bonewitz, who completed a memorable day at Great Gorge by capturing both Division 4 and Senior Net titles.
Congratulations to Kurt Bonewitz on an outstanding double victory at The Clash at the Gorge!
Senior Net Player of the Year Race Takes a Major Turn
The Senior Net competition carried even more significance with the Player of the Year race hanging in the balance.
With Larry Barber not competing in the event, Leto had a valuable opportunity to close the gap—and he took full advantage of it. Leto delivered an outstanding Net Score 71 (E) to win the Senior Net competition, earning valuable Player of the Year points in the process.
Leto’s victory helped erase Barber’s 20-point advantage and move him into the lead in the Senior Net Player of the Year standings. Following the event, Leto sits at 365.30 points, while Barber is at 354.25, giving Leto an 11.05-point lead.
That’s a 31-point swing in the race from where things stood entering the event.
Folds of Honor Raffle – Winner of a Great Gorge Foursome – Mike Healy
TO DATE – Players of the New Jersey Amateur Players Tour have raised: $2,867 to support the Folds of Honor!
The Player of the Year Race Is Coming Down to the Wire!
One event. One final chance. One champion.
The 2026 New Jersey APT season comes down to one final event—the New Jersey Player of the Year Championship at Royce Brook Golf Club on Saturday, August 29th. And the Player of the Year races couldn’t be tighter.
With Divisions 3, 4, and 5, Mid-Am Net, and Senior Net all featuring incredibly close battles, every shot at Royce Brook could be the difference between finishing the season on top or falling just short. The full Player of the Year standings are available below, so take a look—you may be closer to the top than you think!
Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4, Division 5, Mid-Am Net, Senior Net
And the stakes are about to get even higher.
For the championship finale, the prize pool for both the divisions and net games will be doubled, while Player of the Year points will be worth 2.5 times the normal points. That means the final leaderboard could look very different by the end of the day.
Even if you’re not currently in the Player of the Year hunt, you can still have a tremendous impact on who takes home the title. Your performance at Royce Brook could directly influence the final standings—and with a doubled prize pool, there is plenty of incentive to finish the season strong.
And we’re adding a little extra excitement to the finale!
We’ll be raffling off a Folds of Honor Foursome at Royce Brook, plus we’ll have a FREE raffle for two APT memberships and some great APT SWAG!
New Jersey Player of the Year Championship
Saturday, August 29th – Royce Brook Golf Club
Members Only
Straight tee times – First tee at 9:30 AM
Registration closes at 11:59 PM on August 22nd
One event remains. The races are tight. The stakes are higher than ever.
Who will be crowned the 2026 New Jersey Player of the Year?
Then We Kick Off 2027!
The season may be coming to an end, but the golf doesn’t stop!
We’ll officially kick off the 2027 New Jersey APT season at RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club on Saturday, October 10th. Registration for this event will be opening soon, so keep an eye out and get ready to start the new season!
Finish 2026 at Royce Brook. Then get ready to tee it up again at RiverWinds!
