| 2011 Utica City-Am - Final Round |
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| Last 6 Champions 2011: Mike Zurek 2010: Steve Conley 2009: Shane Barrett 2008: Shane Barrett 2007: Brian Levi 2006: Shane Barrett |
| Zurek outlasts field to win Utica City-Am on third hole of playoff |
Mike Zurek, above, hits his approach shot on the par-4 8th hole in
regulation Sunday during the final round of the Greater Utica City-Amateur
at Valley View. Zurek later would capture the title on the 8th hole, which was
the third hole of a playoff with Rich Brooks and Steve Lowe Sr.
regulation Sunday during the final round of the Greater Utica City-Amateur
at Valley View. Zurek later would capture the title on the 8th hole, which was
the third hole of a playoff with Rich Brooks and Steve Lowe Sr.
Earns first city-am victory
during challenging day
at Valley View golf Club
during challenging day
at Valley View golf Club
July 17
UTICA - Whether it's on a professional or amateur
level, or a national or local event, players usually
have to go through a process of suffering through a
few tough losses before learning how to finish off
victories.
During the final round of the Greater Utica
City-Amateur at Valley View Golf Course, Mike
Zurek was able to draw on those experiences to
claim his first title in a three-way playoff with Rich
Brooks and Steve Lowe Sr.
Zurek, 31, won on the third playoff hole (No. 8) after
making par as Brooks made bogey. Lowe was
eliminated the previous hole after bogeying the
par-5 2nd.
"This takes a lot of the pressure off," said Zurek.
"I've been trying to win this for a lot of years and
have had many disappointments."
One of close losses came in 2009, when Zurek was
in the lead on Sunday before finishing three strokes
behind Shane Barrett.
Zurek, Brooks and Lowe finished at 1-over-par 143.
Jeff Lagase (145) finished solo fourth. John
Migliore, Anthony Villanti and defending champion
Steve Conley tied for fifth at 146.
Ted Furcinito and first-round leader Kevin Lojewski
finished at 148. Lojewski remained near the lead
after his first eight holes Sunday, but never
recovered from a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3
18th hole - play began on the back nine.
"The course played really tough today," said Zurek
a Utican, who was a five-year player at Notre Dame
High School. "It was hard and fast, the greens were
dried out ant the pins were tough, so it was really
difficult to stop the ball near the hole. It also was
hot, and I was tired, but I think I handled the
pressure well."
In the Seniors Division, Pete Moskal (two-day total
of 145) won by two strokes over Tony Tomaselli,
who shot 1-under 70 - the best round of the day in
any division.
Moskal has played in every Utica City-Am since he
was 18 years old and has a vivid memory of losing
in a playoff to Joe Leo in 1982, when he was just 21.
"It's really nice to get that win," said Moskal, who
held a 5-stroke lead entering the final round. "It was
really tough playing with the lead. I was trying to
play safe, but it wasn't always working."
In the Super Seniors, Chris Fulmer made a par on
the first playoff hole (par-4 10th) to defeat Barry
Wengert for the title.
Fulmer (151 total) had lost a few playoffs to
Wengert and was just 1 for 7 in playoffs before
Sunday's victory.
The 2011 tournament was the inaugural year for
the Super Duper Seniors Division (Over 70), where
Ray Alessandrini (153 total) edged Roy Barnes by
a stroke.
Moskal, Fulmer and Alessandrini joined a large
crowd to watch Zurek, Brooks and Lowe battle it out
for the Open Division title.
On the first playoff hole (the par-4 1st), Brooks and
Lowe made comfortable pars, but Zurek had to
make a 5-footer to stay alive.
"Making that putt on one gave me a ton of
confidence," said Zurek.
On the par-5 2nd hole, Zurek bombed his drive to
the 150-yard marker, but had to make another
5-foot par putt after missing his approach left and
hitting a poor chip.
Brooks found the trees to the right off the tee and
after punching out, hit a great approach to within 15
feet, but his birdie putt didn't fall.
Lowe also found trouble off the tee and was
eliminated after his long par-putt skirted the hole.
The playoff then moved to the par-4 8th hole, and
after two long drives to the right of the green, Zurek
hit a pitch to the fringe about 20 feet from the pin.
Brooks' approach sailed long and left a brutally
tough chip that he couldn't keep on the green.
Zurek's chip came up four feet short, and when
Brooks failed to hole out his par chip, Zurek calmly
drilled the winning par putt.
RESULTS
FINAL ROUND PHOTO GALLERY
UTICA - Whether it's on a professional or amateur
level, or a national or local event, players usually
have to go through a process of suffering through a
few tough losses before learning how to finish off
victories.
During the final round of the Greater Utica
City-Amateur at Valley View Golf Course, Mike
Zurek was able to draw on those experiences to
claim his first title in a three-way playoff with Rich
Brooks and Steve Lowe Sr.
Zurek, 31, won on the third playoff hole (No. 8) after
making par as Brooks made bogey. Lowe was
eliminated the previous hole after bogeying the
par-5 2nd.
"This takes a lot of the pressure off," said Zurek.
"I've been trying to win this for a lot of years and
have had many disappointments."
One of close losses came in 2009, when Zurek was
in the lead on Sunday before finishing three strokes
behind Shane Barrett.
Zurek, Brooks and Lowe finished at 1-over-par 143.
Jeff Lagase (145) finished solo fourth. John
Migliore, Anthony Villanti and defending champion
Steve Conley tied for fifth at 146.
Ted Furcinito and first-round leader Kevin Lojewski
finished at 148. Lojewski remained near the lead
after his first eight holes Sunday, but never
recovered from a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3
18th hole - play began on the back nine.
"The course played really tough today," said Zurek
a Utican, who was a five-year player at Notre Dame
High School. "It was hard and fast, the greens were
dried out ant the pins were tough, so it was really
difficult to stop the ball near the hole. It also was
hot, and I was tired, but I think I handled the
pressure well."
In the Seniors Division, Pete Moskal (two-day total
of 145) won by two strokes over Tony Tomaselli,
who shot 1-under 70 - the best round of the day in
any division.
Moskal has played in every Utica City-Am since he
was 18 years old and has a vivid memory of losing
in a playoff to Joe Leo in 1982, when he was just 21.
"It's really nice to get that win," said Moskal, who
held a 5-stroke lead entering the final round. "It was
really tough playing with the lead. I was trying to
play safe, but it wasn't always working."
In the Super Seniors, Chris Fulmer made a par on
the first playoff hole (par-4 10th) to defeat Barry
Wengert for the title.
Fulmer (151 total) had lost a few playoffs to
Wengert and was just 1 for 7 in playoffs before
Sunday's victory.
The 2011 tournament was the inaugural year for
the Super Duper Seniors Division (Over 70), where
Ray Alessandrini (153 total) edged Roy Barnes by
a stroke.
Moskal, Fulmer and Alessandrini joined a large
crowd to watch Zurek, Brooks and Lowe battle it out
for the Open Division title.
On the first playoff hole (the par-4 1st), Brooks and
Lowe made comfortable pars, but Zurek had to
make a 5-footer to stay alive.
"Making that putt on one gave me a ton of
confidence," said Zurek.
On the par-5 2nd hole, Zurek bombed his drive to
the 150-yard marker, but had to make another
5-foot par putt after missing his approach left and
hitting a poor chip.
Brooks found the trees to the right off the tee and
after punching out, hit a great approach to within 15
feet, but his birdie putt didn't fall.
Lowe also found trouble off the tee and was
eliminated after his long par-putt skirted the hole.
The playoff then moved to the par-4 8th hole, and
after two long drives to the right of the green, Zurek
hit a pitch to the fringe about 20 feet from the pin.
Brooks' approach sailed long and left a brutally
tough chip that he couldn't keep on the green.
Zurek's chip came up four feet short, and when
Brooks failed to hole out his par chip, Zurek calmly
drilled the winning par putt.
RESULTS
FINAL ROUND PHOTO GALLERY
Utica City-Am Coverage
Friday
-Best-Ball Story
-Best-Ball Photo Gallery
Saturday
-First Round Story
-First Round Photo Gallery
Sunday
-Final Round Photo Gallery
-Results
Friday
-Best-Ball Story
-Best-Ball Photo Gallery
Saturday
-First Round Story
-First Round Photo Gallery
Sunday
-Final Round Photo Gallery
-Results
Rich Brooks, above, hits his tee shot on the par-3 6th hole,
while Steve Lowe Sr., below, hits his drive on the par-4 9th
during Sunday's final round. Brooks and Lowe lost in a
playoff to Mike Zurek.
while Steve Lowe Sr., below, hits his drive on the par-4 9th
during Sunday's final round. Brooks and Lowe lost in a
playoff to Mike Zurek.
ABOVE: First-round leader Kevin Lojewski hits his tee shot
to the par-3 6th hole. Lojewski made a few big numbers,
including a quadruple bogey on the 18th hole (began
round on No. 10), that dropped him out of contention.
BELOW: Defending champion, Steve Conley hits his iron
approach on the par-4 8th hole. Conley shot 76 and tied
for fifth with a 146 total.
to the par-3 6th hole. Lojewski made a few big numbers,
including a quadruple bogey on the 18th hole (began
round on No. 10), that dropped him out of contention.
BELOW: Defending champion, Steve Conley hits his iron
approach on the par-4 8th hole. Conley shot 76 and tied
for fifth with a 146 total.
The 2011 Greater Utica City-Am champions, from left are: Mike Zurek (Open Division); Pete Moskal (Seniors
Division); Ray Alessandrini (Super Duper Seniors) and Chris Fulmer (Super Seniors). Not pictured are Friday's
best-ball champions, Rich Brooks and John Migliore.
Division); Ray Alessandrini (Super Duper Seniors) and Chris Fulmer (Super Seniors). Not pictured are Friday's
best-ball champions, Rich Brooks and John Migliore.