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DeGol Jr., DeLoretto prevail in SV playoff

TYRONE – A lot of years three sub-70 rounds would be good enough to win a local two-man best-ball tournament. For the annual Sinking Valley Country Club event ,it was only good enough to force a one-hole playoff.

David DeGol Jr. and Bernie DeLoretto finished dead even with DelBaggio brothers Terry and Ben at 204 through 54 holes. DeGol and DeLoretto birdied the first playoff hole to win the tournament.

DeLoretto’s 18-foot putt clinched the tournament. DeLoretto gave all the credit for the win to his partner, though.

“He played his butt off Saturday and Sunday. I was a cheerleader [Saturday]. I should have just gotten my pom-poms out,” he said. “It’s nice to have somebody steady to count on. That’s a nice feeling.”

All four were about even off the tee on the 460-yard, par-5 hole No. 1, but the second and third shots determined the outcome. DeGol put his second shot in position for a two-putt birdie.

“I had an opening and ran it up in front of the green,” DeGol said. “Making putts was the key. The wet greens made it tough, but the greenskeeper did a great job with what he had to work with.”

DeLoretto’s second shot found a sand trap, but he was able to chip out onto the green. Ben DelBaggio’s second shot ended up in the creek, and Terry DelBaggio’s third and fourth shots landed in sand traps on opposite sides of the green.

“Six other teams would have loved to be where we were,” Ben DelBaggio said. “It’s been a few years since we’ve been in contention. It was a lot of fun.”

Terry DelBaggio’s birdie putt on 18 forced the playoff.

“It was a five-foot slider to the right,” he said. “I enjoy playing against good competition, and especially enjoy playing with my brother.”

Both tandems shot an opening round 69 for a one-stroke lead after play on Friday. The DelBaggios shot a 67 Saturday to stay atop the leaderboard. DeGol and DeLoretto’s 68 Saturday put them one stroke back.

Artie Fink and William Smith combined for the low round of the tournament, shooting 66 to pull into a first-place tie entering Sunday’s round. Fink and Smith finished with a 205, one-stroke back of the top two teams.

In addition to the playoff Sunday, there was a hole-in-one as well. Mike Luther found the cup off the tee on the 185-yard, par-3 hole no. 8. Luther was partnered with Rodney Marshall in the fifth flight. They were playing with Scott Fozard and Kevin Klein.

Championship Flight

David DeGol Jr/Bernie DeLoretto 69-68-67 204; Terry DelBaggio/Ben DelBaggio 69-67-68 204; Artie Fink/William Smith 70-66-69 205; Chris Perry/Todd Homan 70-70-68 208; Wally Clapper/Spencer Hinish 74-69-68 211; Jimmy Ferguson/Gregory Ferguson 70-70-72 212; Greg Ferguson/Leonard DelBaggio 74-73-71 218; Matt Brooks/Ken Faith 74-72-76 222.

DeGol Jr/DeLoretto def. DelBaggio/DelBaggio in one-hole playoff.

FIRst Flight winner: Brian Hall/Steve Genter 70-69-67 206.

SECOnd Flight winner: Brad Mikolajczyk/Tom Haught 73-71-70 214.

THIrd Flight winner: Eric Glunt/Francis Pirozzola 72-69-80.

FOURth Flight winner: Jim Wright/Jim Weber 77-72-77 226.

FIFth Flight winner: Drew Gehl/Tom Rubine 75-77-81.

SIXth Flight winner: Ryan Buchanan/Shawn Sankey 76-82-78 236.

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