Every autumn since the 1980s, the men and women of Bass Rocks GC and Rockport GC have competed for the Cape Ann Cup for bragging rights and a trophy. This year more than 50 golfers played Oct 14-15, with one round at each club. The Bass Rocks ladies team defeated Rockport 8.50 to 3.50. The Bass Rocks men squeaked out a win 17.50 to 14.50.
Bass Rocks Women’s Team members included Jenny Ceppi, Kathy Bertagna, Janet Powers, Sandy Potter, Myra Coletti, Anne Saurman, Pamela Kirby, Lauren McSheffrey, Mary Grant, Patricia Burke, Beverly Rogers, Elaine Howell and Barbara Moody.
Bass Rocks Men’s Team members included Steve Salah, Mike D’Annolfo, Paul Sweeney, Chris McCarthy, Tony Conigliari, Fred Forsgard, Matt Theriault, Derek Pregent, Robert Berry, Peter Iovanni, Paul Xavier, Bill Werle, Jim Aloisio, Mike Rogers, Frank Muzio, Steve Paccone, Tim Good, Dan Sweeney, Bob Trocchi, Joe Cronin, Rick Drake, Carmon Herrick, Stephen Bell, Peter von Zweck, Patrick Salony, David Manley, Steve Lindo, Mike Butter, Paul Chabot, John Veneziano, Frank Sablone and Bill Cuff.
Rockport Women’s Team members included Bailey Kaplan, Betty Munroe, Dani Dragonas, Marylynne Silva, Kendra Dagle, Leslie Milne, Nancy Leger, Valerie Clayton, Marian Parco, Stacey Wayrynen, Julie Tanson and Sandy Anderson.
Rockport Men’s Team members included Jeff Hobbs, John Destino, Kevin Olson, Matt Martin, Steven Rich, James Aspesi, Chris Nelson, Peter Carlson, Daniel Cashman, Caleb Tanson, Mike Palazola, Chris Trupiano, Benjamin Levie, Mike Francis, Carl Wall, Peter Baughn, Neal Butler, Brett Davis, Gary Osterhout, Ed Reed, Devon Murray, Bill Melvin, Brian Anderson, John Dionne, Steve Attwood, Wayne Barrett, Tim Wood, Steve Gillis, Steve Levie, Skip Munroe, Larry Burnham and Ed Osterhout.
In a similar vein, the second annual “War on the Shore” with men from Winthrop GC and Kelley Greens GC battling for bragging rights is scheduled for May 18-19. The first round is in Nahant, the second in Winthrop. Kelley Greens is defending champ. … Kelley Greens’ ongoing drain and pond management programs have contributed greatly to the course being playable sooner after rain and weather events. … The Nahant club is bringing back its Sunday afternoon “Back Yard BBQ” with delicious eats and live music every Sunday from 4-6 p.m. … The 9-hole course is also hosting a weekly Friday evening “Duo Scramble” event that’s great for all ages and skill levels. Small prizes will be awarded.
The Meadow at Peabody Golf Course opened for the season on March 13. The very next day, James Kelleher got a hole-in-one on the 6th hole, using a 9-iron. Meadow member Ray Baril was his witness. … A few North Shore golfers also made an ace during the waning days of the 2023 season: Paul Varonakis on Nov. 19 at Thomson CC; Colleen Richards on Nov 5 at Gannon Municipal GC; Kenneth Noonan on Oct. 31 at Wenham CC; David Scholnick on Oct. 27 at Beverly G&T; Bruce MacDonald on Oct. 26 at Four Oaks CC; James Acciavatti on Oct. 19 at Beverly G&T; Josh Boyce on Oct. 4 at Turner Hill; and Heather Sullivan on Sept. 24 at Hickory Hill GC.
Let’s honor the achievements of
some of our top players from 2023!
Bass Rocks Golf Club: Men’s champ – Mark Turner; Women’s – Jenny Ceppi; Senior Club Champion – Steve Salah; Lundberg Match Play Championship – Mike D’Annolfo (3 years in a row); Lundberg Match Play Net Championship – Bill Saurman (80 years old); Ladies Flighted Class A – Judith Cronin; Ladies Flighted Class B – Elaine Howell; Bass Rocks Trophy Winner – Tony Andrew; Junior club champ – Sam Kesterson.
Beverly Golf and Tennis Club: Men’s champ – Chris Piumelli; Women’s – Carmen Madore; Senior Men’s – Peter Ottley; Men’s Net – Matt Tormey, Rich Charron, Mark Desmond, Mike Hubbard; Women’s Net – Debbie Mallet, Christine Prince
Essex County Club: Men’s champ – Joe Cunningham; Women’s – Lauren Herter; Senior Women’s – Alby Waugh; Junior – Gray West
Gannon Municipal Golf Course: Men’s champ – James Friedman; Women’s – Mary Hunt; Senior Men’s – Mark Spencer; Senior Women’s – JoAnne St. Pierre; Net Men’s – Brian Mini; Net Women’s – Lisa Franklin.
Kelley Greens: Men’s champ – Dave Nyman.
Meadow Brook Golf Club: Men’s champ – Brandon Vitarisi; Senior – Charlie Johnson; Super Senior – Lou Silva.
Ould Newbury Golf Club: Men’s champ – Cael Kohan; Net – Jackson Buccheri.
Rockport Golf Club: Men’s champ – Matt Martin; Men’s 1st Flight – David Pratt; Men’s 2nd Flight – George Hobbs; Women’s Marge Curtis Cup – Margaret Hale; Women’s Gladys Smith Cup – Stacey Wayrynen.
Rowley Country Club: Men’s champ – Jerry Gould; Net – Scott Dumas; Senior – Rick MacDonald; Senior Net – Kevin Flaherty.
Sagamore Spring Golf Club: Men’s champ – Andrew Waisnor; Women’s – Connie Hayton; Men’s Net – Jim Rogers; Women’s Net – Vicki Malatesta.
Salem Country Club: Men’s Senior – Greg Badger; Women’s Senior – Diane Carter; Junior – AJ Bodnar.
Tedesco Country Club: Men’s champ – Brad Tufts; Women’s – Kym Pappathanasi; Men’s Senior – Michael Zmetrovich; Women’s Senior – Joanne Steadman; Women’s 9-Hole champ – Lisa Parker; Ward Cup – Zak and Stacey Kraft; Women’s Memorial Cup – Peachie Demakes; Women’s 9-Hole Member/Member – Tracy Maag and Kim Monahan; Women’s Member/Member Gross – Kym Pappathanasi and Amy Leveroni; Women’s Member/Member Net – Amy Krypel and Jen Brennan; Grandmothers Tournament – Janet Griffin; Four Ball champ C.J. Soderlund and Drew Morin; Four Ball champ Round-a- Day – Phil DiCarlo and Robert Defruscio; Tedesco Cup gross – Roger Tufts and Tim Murphy; Tedesco Cup net – C.J. Soderlund and John Soderlund; Les Dunn gross – Zak Kraft and John Lynch; Les Dunn net – Brett Danahy and Eric Greene; Blue Coat champs – Matt Barbuzzi, Spencer Parsons, Todd Piver, Anthony Sasso.
Thomson Country Club: Men’s champ – Beau Breton; Women’s – Joy Santoro; Senior Men’s – Tom Finocchio.
Wenham Country Club: Men’s champ – Jerry Markham; Women’s – Martha Field.
Winthrop Golf Club: Junior champ – Eli Wickman.
Far Corner GC will host its annual North Shore Amateur August 13-14. … Mass Golf’s Men’s Team Matches will take place June through September, with its championship taking place at Ipswich CC Oct. 21. … Ferncroft CC hosts the NEPGA Women’s Championship Sept. 3-4. … Tedesco CC will host the NEPGA Men’s Championship Sept. 3-5.
Tedesco CC head PGA professional Ryan Train said he and the club are “incredibly fortunate” to have its entire pro staff back for 2024: First Assistant Ron Coiro and assistant professionals Lee Jatkevicius, Sam Freund and Weston Lazarus, and Outside Operations Manager Scott Haskell. … On Tedesco’s course, Director of Grounds Peter Hasak, Superintendent Mike Hughes and their team have removed select trees and cleared underbrush to improve agronomics on holes 5, 9, 10, 12 and 16. There’s also a new tee box on the long par-3 7th hole that adds some yardage variety (190 to 210 yards) and offers a new line to the green. … Improvements have also been made at the practice range.
There are big doings at Lynnfield’s town-operated courses. Donnie Lyons, PGA Director of Golf at Reedy Meadow and King Rail, reports that King Rail’s brand new clubhouse is well into construction and should be fully operational by May 1. Meanwhile, King Rail’s PGA professional Eddie Whalley has moved on to Haverhill CC. Whalley resides in Haverhill. Improvements continue at both courses and discussions are underway about remodeling the pro shop and patio area at Reedy Meadow in the next year or two. …
Over at Hillview GC in North Reading, head PGA professional Chris Carter is enthusiastic about Phase One of ambitious course renovations, which have begun. New tee surfaces, bunkers and cart paths, plus tree removal are in the works. “This winter we started construction on holes 13-17 for new tees, traps and paths, and extensive tree work on holes 6 & 7. We plan to complete these this spring and plan to start Phase 2 this fall,” Carter said. … Across town at Thomson CC, General Manager Chris Young gave a shoutout to The Buddy Group, started more than 30 years ago by Buddy O’Neil and Buddy Millerick. The group consists of about 70 club members and tees it up every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “It’s a fun group to play with and super welcoming to all new members of the club,” said Young. He also praised the work of head chef/Food and Beverage manager Mario Ruiz, who has been with the club since its Grill Room opened in 2016, and his family. His wife, Leiris, is also a chef in the kitchen, daughterVivian is a server/kitchen helper/administrator and son Mario Jr. is a prep cook. “They are a great family and loved by the membership,” Young said.
Bob Flynn, director of golf at Far Corner Golf Course in Boxford for the past 30 years, passed away on February 19. He was 61. At a very early age, Bob enjoyed working side by side at the golf course with his father Bill Flynn. After graduating from St. John’s Prep, Bob continued in the family business, pursuing a career in golf. Early in his career as golf professional he managed Lakeview Golf Course in Wenham and later moved on to manage the Mount Hood Golf Course in Melrose. Bob was a great ambassador for the game and is missed by the entire North Shore golf community.
The Meadow at Peabody is offering the PGA Jr. League program for the first time this May/June. Boys and girls ages 8-17 are invited to join The Meadow at Peabody @PGAJrLeague this season. No golf experience required! Sign up today at PGAJrLeague.com. … World Golf Hall of Famer and LPGA superstar Juli Inkster received the 2024 Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf at the Ouimet Fund’s Annual Banquet on March 21 at the Encore casino in Everett. With a professional career spanning three decades, Inkster’s career is highlighted by a seven major championship wins, and she has more wins in Solheim Cup matches than any other American, and is the only female golfer in history to win two majors in a decade for three consecutive decades. … Molly Smith of Westford debuted with the University of Central Florida at the Cougar Classic. Playing at the Yeamans Hall Club in Hanahan, S.C., Molly shot 69-69-65 for 203 and a share of fifth place. Her 10-under total was the second-best score for UCF and the closing 65 tied for low round. … Isabel Brozena of North Reading has committed to play golf at Division 1 Xavier.
Several early-season charity golf tournaments are on tap! On Monday, May 13, American Red Cross Northern Chapter will benefit from a fun day of golf at Ferncroft CC. Following golf will be a dinner and a comedy show by Paul D’Angelo. All proceeds go to those in need. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.givebutter.com/AmericanRedCrossNEChapter … The First REAL (Lynn-based Reading and Educational Assistance for Learning) Golf Tournament will take place Monday, May 20 at Kernwood CC. For more information or to reserve your spot go to https://www.therealprogram.org/golfregistration … The YMCA of Metro North will host its 39th annual For the Kids Golf Tournamenton Monday, June 24 at Kernwood CC. For details and to reserve your spot, go to https://www.ymcametronorth.org/support/ymca-of-metro-north-charity-golf-tournament/ …
Terry Francona, who managed Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles and guided the Cleveland Indians to an American League pennant, has been named honorary chair of the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship. The United States Golf Association will conduct the U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club from June 26-30. Four U.S. Senior Opens have been held in New England, including 2017 when the championship was played at Salem Country Club. Kenny Perry posted a two-stroke victory over Kirk Triplett to claim his second Senior Open title.Tickets for the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Newport CC are now on sale and available for purchase here.
It’s been five years since the Middleton Golf Course closed for good – March 31, 2019 to be exact. The town purchased the property and announced at the time that a modern town center surrounded by glorious green space would occupy the 52-acre site. But nothing has happened since then. It saddens us every time we drive down Route 114 and see the weeds and neglect. Many of us learned to play the game at the 18-hole par-3 course, and for 53 years it was a favorite of golfers of all skill levels. Pardon us while we grab a hankie and flash back to those good old days.
