DALLAS TWP. – For the first time in decades, the Potentate reverted back to an open tournament.
If the event at Irem Country Club had remained as a member-guest, one of the more dominant performances in recent history wouldn’t have been witnessed.
The team of Tyler McGarry and Mariano Medico — both Fox Hill Country Club members — raced to the low score in the championship flight qualifying round Aug. 4. From there, they didn’t trail once in four match-play rounds over the next two days, ending with an impressive 6-and-4 win over Jonathan Wilson and Ryan Georgetti in the finals.
“We didn’t trail in any match in the tournament, and that’s huge because you get down, you start getting pressure put on you and have to battle and grind,” said McGarry, a Misericordia University all-star golfer from Pittston Area. “When you’re out in front, you can just kind of keep it going.”
The final concluded when Medico eagled the par-4 No. 14 from about 50 yards out to cap a run of three straight holes won by the team, which captured the tournament title for the first time.
“That’s just a lucky shot from the front of the green, you just try to get it close to end the match,” said Medico, a Shavertown resident who led Holy Redeemer to a state high school team championship in 2013. “It’s a great way to finish the tournament. We had such a good time this weekend. And what a better way to end it than with a little hole-out.”
McGarry and Medico also had a three-hole winning streak on Nos. 3, 4 and 5, getting pars on all three to go up three holes early.
A par putt by Georgetti on No. 7 cut the deficit to two, but McGarry birdied No. 8 to go back up by three. Wilson and Georgetti had a chance to close the gap again on 11 when McGarry and Medico both bogeyed, but their par putts also fell short.
After that, McGarry birdied 12 and Medico birdied 13 to go up five heading to 14, setting up the exciting finish. The birdie on 12 was impressive because McGarry had to get the ball on the right spot on his approach shot on the sloped green, or it would roll back down to the cutout.
He did just that, then got the birdie. It set the tone for the rest of the match.
In Sunday morning’s semifinals, McGarry and Medico were challenged after getting ahead by four holes with five to play. But their opponents, Jeff Hodorowski and Jim Fronzoni, eventually pulled within one, thanks to shooting 4-under on the back nine. McGarry and Medico reached the finals, winning 2-and-1.
Winners of other flights were: Championship B, Mark Jones-Rich Serafin; First, Chris Brojakowski-Dave Mullery; Second, Walter Kuharchik-Ron Pieczynski; Third, Mike Sharok-John Litrenta; Fourth, Joe Rubbico-Marty Zimniski; Fifth, Ryan Holthaus-Tom Motovidlak; Sixth, Justin Brojakowski-Brendan Baloh; Seventh, Mick Weyman-Rich Gorgone; Eighth, Dale Clouse-Wally Piger; Ninth, Coray Mitchell-Mark Soprano; 10th, Austin Carr-Tim Crossin; 11th, Brian Zimmerman-Sid May; 12th, D.L. Sadvary-Paul Detwiler III; 13th, Carl Seitz-Lee Moran.
