NSG<strong>Fall</strong><strong>2018</strong>.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 3:13 PM Page 6 PHOTOS: Spenser Hasak CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Matthew Collins, 13, and dad Drew get a line on a putt at Winchester Country Club; Dennis and Michael Nigro celebrate after Michael drained the tricky putt for par they were sizing up on the cover; Ralph Bonnell, who has played the Father-Son Invitational for 60 years, watches his tee shot on the 10th; Richard Ferriter signs the commemorative board as Tim Ferriter looks on; Brian and Luke Haney, 7, of Winchester make their way up to the ninth green. 6 >>> FALL <strong>2018</strong>
NSG<strong>Fall</strong><strong>2018</strong>.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 3:13 PM Page 7 Fathers & Sons Winchester tourney celebrates 100th year either snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of N night stays these couriers (or golfers) from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. If there is one saying that captures the spirit of the annual Winchester Country Club Father-Son Invitational, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, it has to be that one. The tournament was founded in 1919, the same year the Black Sox threw the World Series, Babe Ruth was traded to the dreaded Yankees, and a little thing called Prohibition began. The oldest tournament of its kind in the nation, it has been played for 100 consecutive years. Not even the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship or British Open can make that claim, those tournaments having been canceled during the world wars. “It’s pretty special this year, as it is the 100th anniversary of the tournament,” said head golf professional Jim Salinetti. “As far as we know, it’s the only tournament of its kind to have been played that long without interruption. Somehow, the tournament just always carried on no matter what was happening. It’s just crazy to think that this event has been played 100 times in 100 years with 100 winners now in the books, and it’s amazing that there were never any interruptions, not due to war or hurricanes or anything.” Equally impressive was the final round on July 26, which was interrupted twice by heavy rain. Play was suspended at 3:15 and the course was evacuated after some greens had taken on too much water. Nonetheless, in typical Winchester Father-Son tradition, play carried on after two delays totaling a little more than 90 minutes. Some teams finished their rounds in total darkness. A handful of teams completed their rounds the next morning. By the time the final score was posted, Bill and Boomer Jenks (Brae Burn) were crowned overall champions. They posted a 1-over-par 72 on Tuesday, July 24, but had to wait until the morning of Friday, July 27, to see that their score held up. It did, but there was plenty of drama right down to the final group. Eddie and Ollie Cordeiro (Belmont) and Dave and Sean Savage (Winchester) were among five teams to finish that last day. Each stood 1-over with two holes to go. The Cordeiros bogeyed the 17th and narrowly missed birdie on 18 to fall one shot shy. Team Savage made a spectacular up-and-down for par on 17 to stay 1-over, but bogied the 18th, leaving them one shot behind. The Savages didn't go home empty handed, however, as they won the 16-and-over gross division title. By ANNE MARIE TOBIN “As far as we know, it’s the only “By the time the final score was posted, Bill and Boomer Jenks were crowned overall champions.” The tournament is a grueling event of 18-hole, selected-drive, alternate-shot stroke play. Tee times run from 7 a.m. to almost 5 p.m., with play winding down sometimes in pitch-dark conditions. A true family affair, it is common for dads to play multiple days with different sons and grandsons. There were two double-winners this year. Mike and Mikey Santonelli won the 13-15 gross title with a 76, while Mike Sr. and Mikey and won the grandfather-grandson division gross title with an 84. Teams Fiorentino swept the 12-and-under division with father Dave and son Adam winning the gross title (84) and Dave and son William winning the net title (57). Other winners were Doug and Michael Nordberg, 62 (16- and-over net); Mike and Jack Bosco, 66 (13-15 net); Bill Hood and Julian Ragosa, 65 (grandfather-grandson net); and Hugh, Brian and Peter Mullin, 157 (father/two sons). This year, 320 teams participated. “It can’t get much bigger than this year with three full days of tee times running from dawn till practically dusk,” said Salinetti. “Being the centennial year, the field was a little fuller than past years so we had to limit the new invitees to a handful … but we really didn’t have to turn too many people away.” Past champion Richard D. Chapman, a longtime member at Winged Foot <strong>Golf</strong> Club, is among the most accomplished players to have played in the Father-Son. He is one of only two players to win the U.S., Canadian and British Amateur championships and also may be best known for his efforts working with the USGA to create the Chapman System format in the 1950s. Among the notables in this year's field were four players playing for the 60th time or more. Dr. Garrett Gillespie leads that pack with 71 appearances, followed by Ken Volk (68), Bill Hood (61) and Ralph Bonnell (60). Bill Locke Sr., a longtime member at Thomson C.C., at 96, is the oldest person to play in the tournament. Locke drained a tricky sidehill, downhill 3-footer on the final hole for 96, to match his age, with youngest son Timothy Locke of Winchester. The roll of past champions contains some of the most recognized names in golf. One name stands out: Monahan. Four generations of that clan have found the winners’ circle, starting in 1938 when Judge Joe Monahan won with son Joe Monahan Jr. That team went on to win seven titles. Joe Monahan III won 10 titles with son Brendan, the most recent win coming last year when they prevailed in an unprecedented four-way 18-hole playoff. All told, Monahan III has won 17 titles, three with son Justin and four with son Jay, the current commissioner of the PGA. l NORTH SHORE GOLF
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