43
Vechiarelli unseats champ in Super Seniors
Vechiarelli tops three-time champ Antonelli
By Ryan buck
Dominic Vechiarelli spent the last weekend of July caddying for his granddaughter, Christina Cooper, in The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley Junior tournament final, presented by Farmers National Bank.
With his help, she broke away from the field to win the event. Vechiarelli looked on as she received her trophy at Trumbull Country Club that day. In the back of his mind, however, he wanted one of his own.
He got his wish on Saturday. With a final round 72 at The Lake Club course, Vechiarelli overtook three-time defending champion Ed Antonelli by one stroke to win his first Super Seniors division crown.
On the 18th hole and ahead by one stroke, Vechiarelli needed par to win. He hooked his drive into the left rough. After a punch-out, he chipped short of the green. Another chip shot brought him to within three feet. He calmly sank his par putt.
Unbeknownst to even him, it clinched the title.
“I was fortunate that I didn’t know I had to make par to win it,” said Vechiarelli, who was charged a two-stroke penalty in last year’s final round for fixing a ball mark on the collar surrounding The Lake Club’s 18th green. “Today was kind of like that, going head-to-head on every hole.”
In Greatest Golfer circles, his feat is the equivalent of unseating a legend.
“Ed is very gracious,” Vechiarelli said. “He makes you play good golf. He shook my hand before the round and said, ‘I hope you win it.’”
Today Cooper and her grandfather will have their picture taken together, trophies in hand
“That’s a very special thing,” Vechiarelli said. “She caddied for me at Mill Creek, but she was in Canton today for a tournament. I know she wanted to be here.”
The Senior division finalists also hit the links Saturday to determine their champion.
Bob Leonard of Canfield fired a final round 71 to win the division by three strokes over Gary Woods and four over Tim Porter.
He caught fire right off the first tee with an eagle and birdie on The Lake Club’s front nine. It wasn’t before his game started to fall apart, literally.
On the third hole he sank his par putt, then laid his club down as he bent over to pick up the flag stick.
“I laid it down pretty softly, I thought,” Leonard said. “Then inadvertently, the putter head snapped off.”
With the leader left without a putter, assistant professional Don Confoey came to his aid. He raced back to the pro shop and lent his own club to Leonard for the remainder of the round.
The magic stick carried him to victory.
“It worked fine,” Leonard said. “I was putting great with it. My putting saved me.”
This is Leonard’s second Greatest Golfer title, as he won the inaugural Seniors title.
“I’ve got two bookends now,” he said.
The rest of the field will crown champions today at The Lake Club.
In the Men’s 5-9 handicap flight, Girard native Joe Castor carries a two-shot lead over Bryce Miner. He posted rounds of 73 and 74 at Mill Creek and Youngstown Country Club, respectively.
Saturday’s round was truly a test for Castor, who is playing in the event for the first time.
After five birdies and eight bogeys, he said, “It was a crazy round. I don’t think I’ve ever had a round like that in my life. It was hard to keep it together.”
“I won’t rest on a two-shot lead,” Castor said, as 11 players are within 7 shots of the lead.
In the Men’s Open division, Jonah Karzmer used a second round 73 Saturday at Trumbull Country Club to take a two-stroke lead. Tim Morrow and Joshua Zarlenga lead a finalist field with 10 golfers within five shots of Karzmer.
Toni Notaro needs only a consistent performance to claim the Women’s Open group. She shot a second round 76 at Oak Tree Country Club for a 13-shot advantage.
After an 88, Abby Cook has a one-shot lead over Patty Brant and a two-shot lead over Jill Harmon in the Women’s 9-plus group.
Griffin Todd leads the Men’s 10-14 handicap flight by one shot over Michael Guerreri while Sean Tisone, Patrick Campbell and Steve Martin sit atop the 15+ flight with 167, 168 and 169, respectively.
The final day of play is today at The Lake Club. For all tournament coverage, see The Vindicator in print and online at vindy.com/golf.