Fioretti Leds Senior Amateur; Byer Tops Super Seniors
LEADERBOARDS, FINAL-ROUND PAIRINGS
It’s been a great summer thus far for Anthony Fioretti of Ballyowen
Back on Tuesday, May 31, he had a day to remember with a hole-in-one on his first swing of the NJSGA/NJPGA Senior Open at Spring Brook in Morristown in the morning.
But the best was yet to come in the afternoon of May 31. After finishing up at Spring Brook, Fioretti hopped into his car and arrived at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale and went on to win the Senior Division of the Eagle Oaks Invitational.
On Tuesday, August 2, Fioretti, 56, shot an even-par 70 to take the first-round lead of the 58th NJSGA Senior Amateur Championship at 6,441-yard Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains.
Fioretti, a left-handed golfer, had two birdies and two bogeys to grab a one-shot lead over Tom Hassel of Manasquan River, 2014 champion Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge, and David Weininger of Mountain Ridge.Last year, Fioretti, Hassel and Blumenfeld all tied for second to Bill Charpek of Navesink, who shot 76 yesterday.
Tom DiCinti of Old York, the 2010 champion, Ron Vannelli of Forsgate, David Folkes of Metedeconk National and Bert Kosup of Ridge at Back Brook all shot 72. The top 26 Seniors, ages 55 and above wo shot 76 or better, return to Wednesday’s final round.
In the concurrent Super Seniors Championship for golfers 65 and above, two-time and defending champion Jm Byer of Springdale shot 72 to hold a two shot lead over Bill Dittmann of Fairway Mews. The top 15 Super Seniors return for Wednesday’s final round.
Fiorettii this winter finished second to Mike Paduano of Eagle Oaks in the Player of the Year points race for the John Caliendo Jersey Shore Winter Golf League.
“I liked the greens. This course favors right-handed hitters. I tried to hit it along the left side along the tree line as much as possible . I think it’s much freer for right-handers to hit their draws out here,” he said.
Fioretti changed his driver this summer and says he is hitting it 20 yards longer off the tee.
“I’ve been playing more consistent and striking the ball better,” said Fioretti, who qualified for the State Open and will play with Bobby Erianne Preakness Valley in the NJSGA Four-Ball Championship.
“Finishing second last year told me I can compete at this level. I just want to keep it together tomorrow and see what happens,” said Fioretti, a native of West Orange who now resides in Sparta and works in both the vending and insurance businesses.
In the 2015 Super Seniors, Byer took the title by shooting 75-81-156, two strokes better than Kevin Clarke of Quail Brook (79-79-158) and three shots better than Scott Michels of Hackensack (81-78-159).
Byer, 72, won the Super Senior in 2011, the first year of the event. Byer, who has been retired six years from his job as headmaster at Hun School.
Byer last summer won the club championship at Springdale for an eighth time. Byer, a native of Trenton, attended Marietta College in Ohio and led it to the NCAA Division 3 rowing championship in 1966.
