Tournament Champions
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It was a beautiful sunny day for golf, and the New Jersey/Philadelphia chapter headed south to Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey where we hosted our fifth tournament at LBI National Golf and Resor, Situated on over 155 acres of meticulously maintained grounds nestled within South Jersey, the newly named LBI National is being reimagined and revived! The property’s 35,000-square-foot clubhouse features a restaurant, a pro shop, multiple private dining and event spaces, and an Atlantic City skyline view.
In Division 1 anticipation hung thick in the air as four highly skilled golfers prepared for a fierce battle to the finish. As they reached the midway point, the competition lived up to its promise. Zach Mueller maintained an even score, while Preston Kyriakoulis, Dan Ayars, and Chris Meares trailed slightly at +1 each. Chris surged ahead at the start of the back nine, clinching a birdie on hole #10 while the others settled for pars. However, the challenge intensified on hole #11, with three bogeys and one double bogey recorded. Zach began to assert his dominance with a streak of five pars, solidifying his lead as he approached #17 and #18 at +1 for the round. Meanwhile, Preston mounted a spirited comeback with four consecutive pars from hole 15 through 18, keeping the contest grippingly close. Ultimately, Zach maintained his composure to finish at +3, securing the victory, while Preston concluded with a commendable +4, narrowly trailing behind.
In Division 2, In a gripping showdown, the back nine became the ultimate battleground, determining who would hoist the trophy. Tom Welsh and David Ayars burst out of the gates, setting a blistering pace. Welsh, with surgical precision, birdied holes 4 and 9, while Ayars countered with his own birdie on the 7th. At the turn, they were deadlocked at +3, leading the pack of eight. The leaderboard was tight, with Mathew Dempsey lurking just two strokes back at +5. Rocky Dare and Rich Mariner, however, were struggling, both at +6—a start as rocky as Dare’s namesake, if you’ll pardon the pun. But in golf, as in life, it’s not how you start but how you finish. The back nine became a theatre of dreams and despair. Welsh, who had been in top form, lost his rhythm, managing only one par, effectively ending his title hopes. Meanwhile, underdogs Colleen Rafter and Dempsey made their move. Both birdied the 18th, carding impressive +4s on the back nine, throwing their hats into the ring. Ayars, feeling the pressure, stumbled with three bogeys and a double, limping to a final score of 80. But the day belonged to Dare. Living up to his name, he mounted a daring comeback. A birdie on the 10th ignited his charge, followed by a string of pars interrupted by only two bogeys. His back nine performance was a masterclass: +1, bringing his total to a tournament-winning 79. In a field of seasoned competitors, it was the veteran Dare who dared to dream, turning his rocky start into a rock-solid finish. As he lifted the hardware, his victory sent a clear message: in golf, it’s never over until the last putt drops.
In Division 3, a field of 14 warriors stepped onto the green battlefield, each knowing that from the first tee to the final putt, perfection was the price of victory. This wasn’t just player versus player; it was a collective duel against the course itself. Who would emerge victorious in this test of skill, nerves, and resilience?
Gary Greener’s opening act was a horror show: three bogeys and a double in the first four holes threatened to derail his campaign before it began. But champions aren’t defined by their falls, but by their rises. Greener, living up to his name, found his rhythm in the verdant fairways, going par, birdie, par, bogey, par to close out the front nine. At the turn, he had clawed back to +5, planting his flag atop the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Timothy Dublynn was penning his own tale of grit. Opening with two steady pars, he weathered a mid-nine storm before birdieing the 9th. His front nine scorecard read +6, just one stroke behind Greener’s revitalized charge. The rest of the field grappled with the front nine’s challenges, their hopes pinned on a back nine redemption. Steve Winnick answered that call, notching four pars for a back nine +5, finishing with a respectable 85. Greener, still in the hunt, found his nemesis in two double bogeys on the back nine. His +7 finish brought him to a tantalizingly close 84, a testament to golf’s cruel beauty—so near, yet so far. The stage was set for Dublynn. Two strokes clear heading into the 18th, he needed a bogey or better to don the champion’s crown. Under a sky as heavy with anticipation as the air before a storm, Dublynn faced his moment of truth. With steely resolve, he navigated the 18th, his bogey feeling like a birdie as it sealed his triumph. A back nine +5 brought his total to 83—a score that will echo through the annals of Division 3 history at LBI National. In this epic where man battled nature, where every divot told a story of struggle, Timothy Dublynn emerged not just as a victor, but as a master of his craft. Today, on this hallowed turf, he rewrote his legacy in strokes of determination and skill.
in Division 4, in a story that proves golf is 18 holes, a dramatic showdown and the spotlight shone on two contenders, each with a tale to tell on their respective nines. Gregg Hafer, displaying poise and precision, dominated the front nine with a masterclass in consistency. Carding an impressive five pars, he turned in a solid +4, firmly establishing himself as the frontrunner at the halfway mark. Hot on his heels was J.P Perron, who, despite trailing by three strokes with a +7, remained within striking distance. However, it was the back nine that would script the narrative’s climax. Hafer’s game unraveled as he grappled with adversity, succumbing to four double bogeys. The pressure intensified as three of these setbacks occurred in the final three holes, resulting in a challenging +12 and a total score of 88. Enter Mel Portalatin, the divisoin’s dark horse. Languishing at +11 at the turn, his prospects seemed dim. Yet, the back nine witnessed his remarkable resurgence. Showcasing resilience and skill, Portalatin notched two pars and a birdie, carding a commendable +5. His spirited comeback culminated in a final score of 88, setting the stage for a thrilling playoff with Hafer. The tension was palpable as the playoff unfolded, but it was short-lived, concluding in just one hole. Regrettably, the pressure proved too much for Portalatin, who faltered with a triple bogey. Hafer, needing only a double bogey or better to clinch victory, delivered precisely that. In a moment of triumph, he secured the double bogey, etching his name as the Division 3 champion in this unforgettable battle of the nines.
In Division 5: In a day filled with ups and downs, Nicolas Vacca emerged victorious in the Division 5 championship, showcasing resilience despite a challenging back nine. Vacca set the tone early, opening with a par on his first hole, signaling his intent to dominate the field. However, his rhythm was quickly disrupted as he stumbled through three consecutive double bogeys. Displaying the grit of a true competitor, Vacca regrouped spectacularly. He steadied his game, carding three pars and just one bogey over his final four holes on the front nine. This remarkable recovery saw him turn at +9, seizing the lead in dramatic fashion. The battle for second was a nail-biter. Illyas Sarwari and La Fountain were neck-and-neck at +14, while a trio consisting of Paul Barnas, Paul Taylor, and Vito Calabro were hot on their heels, all turning at +15. Vacca’s command seemed to waver on the back nine. In a stark contrast to his front-nine finish, he failed to register a single par, ballooning to +17 and finishing with a 98. This opened the door for his competitors. Calabro seized this opportunity, mounting a spirited charge. Entering the 18th hole just one stroke behind Vacca, the stage was set for a thrilling finale. A par would force a playoff; a birdie would snatch victory. However, under pressure, Calabro faltered, carding a bogey to finish at +12 with a total of 99, securing a commendable second place. Despite his back-nine struggles, Vacca’s early lead proved insurmountable. Taylor, Barnas, Sarwari, and Fountain, despite valiant efforts, couldn’t bridge the gap. In a tournament that tested every golfer’s mettle, Vacca’s front-nine heroics were enough to crown him the Division 5 champion.
In Open Net, Timothy Dublynn took the trophy with a score of Net Even, and Chris Meares and Andrew Beebe came in second with a score of Net +5.
In Senior Net, Was a battle between Rocky Dare, Mel Portalatin, and David Ayars. it was Dare who took the trophy with an impressive Net -1. Closely behind him, wass Portalatin who was Net Even, and Ayars took sole 3rd Net +1.
The New Jersey Amateur Players Tour, has a quick turn around and will be at Architects Golf Club on Sunday June 9th followed and wrapping up the month of June at RiverWinds on June 29th. With spots still available for RiverWinds. From there we head back north on July 13th, to Sparta, New Jersey where we are playing Skyview Golf Course, which is an elevated event (Double points, double prize pool). To wait, sign up today! There’s no better time to secure your spot. Don’t miss out on the excitement – sign up today!
