Shelter Island Reporter

GBCC’s Russell Holmes was the low amateur qualifier in the Metropolitan Open.

With the popular Gardiner's Bay Ryder Cup qualifying round on the table Saturday morning, it was a big weekend at Gardiner's Bay. This tournament was started last year and turned out to be a bonanza of fun and competition for the members, they just loved it.


This second year it seems like the love affair is still going on with Dr. Frank Adipietro at the helm of the fun, dividing the Island by ZIP codes. You are either 11964 or 11965 and that decides what team you are on. Eighty men and women went out to qualify on one of the hottest days of the year last week hoping to get one of the coveted 36 available spots. Each team will have 4 low, 4 medium and 4 high handicap men and 6 women on a team.


This coming Saturday, the teams will play three different formats starting at 7:30 in the morning. They will be playing a Scramble, Alternate Shot and Better Ball of Two. The defending champions, 11964, captained by Bob DeStefano, will be on their toes as Leigh Notley's 11965's will be desperately looking for revenge. So far, 11965's Russell Holmes was the low qualifier in gross but 11964's Chris Carey and Larry Adler were low in the net division. Starting times will be mailed out to the members this week or you can call the golf shop.


The qualifiers:


11964: Larry Adler, Thomas Carey, Greg Clements, Rich Leber, Chris Carey, Jack McCarthy, George Nemeth, Kevin Scanlon, Sid Beckwith, Jerry Glassberg, Alan Klutch, John Thomas, Judy Bennett, Patti Bumsted, Francis Gottfried, Barbara Mahoney, Sue Scanlon and Sue Siegelbaum.


11965: Russell Holmes, Jay Sessa, John Barber, Scott Golden, Jack Gruber, David Rogers, Mike Rouzee, Larry Winston, Ben Jones, Herb Kett, Patrick Farrell, Rob Ferris, Veronica Clements, Betty Kapalla, Pat Kett, Georgie McConnell, Jean Pettibone and Audrey Royer.


In the meantime, our youth are still making us proud at GBCC. Russell Holmes and Samantha Sessa were dynamic off the Island this week while both were playing difficult courses. Holmes played Colonial Springs in the Metropolitan Open qualifier and not only did he qualify but he was the low amateur qualifier in his first meeting with the best pros and amateurs in our section. Sessa on the other hand must be hated when she appears at the Met PGA junior events since this 13-year-old young lady just keeps winning. This week, Sessa shot an 80 at Port Jefferson CC and won her 12- to 14-year-old girls flight by 10 shots over her nearest competitors. Interestingly, She would have tied for low in the 15- to 18-year-old group of girls. Thank you guys for letting the rest of New York know where we live. Congratulations and don't stop now, GBCC is proud of you.


Speaking of youth, last Wednesday six people came out to our club from the Golf Channel to do a segment on our Junior Golf Program. They spent 13 hours filming and interviewing for what they tell me might only be a 5- to 7-minute segment. Of course our own John Feinstein will be hosting the show that we expect to be aired sometime in August. We will keep you informed as we hear more from the Golf Channel.


Monday morning's men quota event found Alan Klutch on top of the heap in individual winners by getting 6 over his quota. Peter Pettibone took second with 4 over and Mike Rouzee third with 2 over his quota. Klutch also drove his four-man team home to first place with a team total of 3 over quota with partners Jerry Glassberg, Jerry Berner and Sid Beckwith.


The ladies had some fun on Tuesday inviting a man to play in each foursome. They call the event three Jills and a Jack and play a step-aside scramble format. Two teams tied for first place with 75s and forcing a matching of cards: Mike Rouzee, Susan Scanlon, Joan Gruber and Fran Walsh against the team of Jack Gruber, Debbie Rouzee, Caren Nederlander and Donna Persson. It was Mike Rouzee, Scanlon, Joan Gruber and Walsh cheerfully taking home the first low gross prize.


However, don't shed any tears for the losing team in the gross division because Jack Gruber, Debbie Rouzee, Nederlander and Persson were also low net with an unbelievable round of 63.


It looks like the Rouzees and the Grubers didn't care which way it went because they were going to have a family member in the winner's circle. 


Taking second low gross with a 78 were George Nemeth, Betty Kapalla, Audrey Royer and Kathy Costello. With scores of 67, second low net prize was won by Steve Lemberg, Veronica Clements, Betty Jones and Jane Babinski after a card playoff between Kevin Scanlon, Patricia Yoder, Ginny Brooks and Julie O'Connor, and the team of Peter Pettibone, Barbara Mahoney, Jane Carreyrou and Dorothy Doughty.