Eagle Ridge tandem of Johnson, Hargadon win 6th UTE
August 18, 2018 - The teams of Kevin Hargadon (above left, in photo) and Fred Johnson of Eagle Ridge, and the Colts Neck team of Joe Giamanco Jr., and Ricky Calve garnered the top two places in the net competition and were the big winners at the 6th NJSGA Ultimate Team Event (UTE), a 27-hole competition, played at Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson on Monday, August 17.
The tandem of Johnson and Hargadon will join the team of Giamanco Jr. and Calve for an all-expenses-paid day of golf, including caddies and food, at the magnificent Hamilton Farm Golf Club (Hickory and Highlands courses) in Gladstone this fall.
Each team combined for 61 points and also will receive glassware and pro-shop credit.
A third team, comprised of Fred Ganley and John Gross of Hominy Hill, also recorded a 61, but settled for third place in the Net Division. Hargadon and Johnson secured first place based on its 25 points in the “Shamble” competition, followed by Giamanco Jr. and Calve with 19 points and the Ganley and Gross squad with 17.
The UTE is a 27-hole, two-man team, net tournament. It utilizes three different formats for each nine-hole round including Pinehurst, Four-Ball, and Shamble competitions.
Giamanco Jr. and Calve recorded a top score of 64 Stableford points in the Gross Division, but they were awarded the better prize as runner-up the Net Division. Rob Winters and Jon Koonin of Edgewood, with 56 points, took first-place honors in the Gross Division.
In the Shamble, the golfers play their own ball from the spot of the better drive of the twosome.
“Fred kept hitting the fairway all day,” said Hargadon, 39, a 12 handicap. “Our final nine was the Shamble and Fred hit seven of seven fairways. That was the ticket right there.”
“Another key for was our caddie, Russell Vultee, who is also a member at Eagle Ridge. He gave us the lines on the greens. If you don’t know how to read greens, you are really in trouble here,” said Johnson, 54, a 7 handicap.
Giamanco Jr. and Calve were teammates this spring on the defending state champion Christian Brothers Academy team that had its season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re happy we played today and came away with a prize, but it doesn’t make up for our lost season,” said Giamanco Jr., a rising senior at CBA who will compete in the upcoming William Y. Dear Junior Championship at Watchung Valley, Aug. 24-26.
“I was really looking forward to the season. Just three years ago, I shot 62 on a nine-hole course” said Calve, 18, who graduated from CBA this spring. “The key for us was letting Joe hit his tee shot in the fairway and then letting me bomb away. I was getting it out there over 300 yards, and my irons and approach shots were pretty good, too.”
This year’s UTE included 58 teams from clubs and courses around the state with an emphasis on player safety and social distancing. It was the third time that Metedeconk National hosted the event, the most recent was held at the Jackson club in 2017.
Listing of Award winners:
27-Hole Overall (Net):
1-Fred Johnson and Kevin Hargadon, Eagle Ridge (61 Match of Cards)
2-Joe Giamanco and Ricky Calve, Colts Neck (61 MOC)
3-Tom Ganley and John Gross, Hominy Hill (61 MOC)
27-Hole Overall Gross: 1-Rob Winters and Jon Koonin, Edgewood (56)
Four-Ball Net: 1- Ivan Ferro and Richard Russell, Eagle Ridge (22)
Pinehurst Net: 1-Jay Rohela and Dave Szegda, Rockleigh (22)
Shamble Net: John Filippatos and Paul Coppa, New Jersey National (23)
