Fioretti Wins Winter League Championship; Locastro Is Player Of Year
Anthony Fioretti of Ballyowen continued his fine play over the past year when he carded a two-over-par 74 to win the 54thJohn Caliendo Jersey Shore Winter Golf League championship among a field of 80 amateur golfers by two shots over Greg Buliga on Wednesday, April 12, at Copper Hill Country Club in Ringoes.
It was a beautiful day to conclude the Winter League season with temperatures in the mid-70s.
In the professional portion of the championship, Mark McCormick of Suburban fired a two-under 70 to edge Kevin Syring of Alpine by a stroke. The victory enabled McCormick to earn Pro Player of the Year honors.
Mike Locastro of Arcola won the Player of the Year honors and finished tied for fifth on Wednesday with a 79.
Ken Jacobs (79-9-70) won the amateur net over Gene DeCarlo (79-8-71) and Joe Russo (78-7-71). DeCarlo was Net Player of the Year.
Last winter, the left-handed swinging Fiorettii finished second to Mike Paduano of Eagle Oaks in the Player of the Year points race in the Jersey Shore Winter League.
Last September, Fioretti reached match-play at the U.S. Senior Amateur in St. Louis and earned exemptions into this year’s NJSGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Public Links championships, as well as the Met Senior Open. He will also play this summer in a British Senior Amateur qualifier in Sunningdale in England.
Last summer, Fioretti changed his driver this summer and said it made him 20 yards longer off the tee. This winter, he changed his irons, adding a heavier shaft, and that also boosted his confidence
“I’ve been playing more consistent and striking the ball better,” said Fioretti, who qualified for the State Open in 2016 and played in the NJSGA Four-Ball Championship.
Fioretti is a native of West Orange who now resides in Sparta and works in both the vending and insurance businesses.
His best shots in the Winter League Championship included an iron shot from 135 yards on the seventh hole that ended a foot from the cup, and a second shot on the par-5 ninth that got him within 35 yards of the hole. Both shots set up birdies.
“I’m very proud to win the Winter League Championship and to end the season this way, coming in on top against the best guys around,” said Fioretti, 56.
Locastro, who caddies at Arcola, won three of the 23 Winter Golf League events with two runners-up finishes. His highlight was a 70 at Rossmoor two weeks ago.
“To be Player of the Year means all my hard work the past few years has paid off,” said Locastro, who has worked with Brett Jones as his swing coach and Nick Molinaro as his sports psychologist.
His last three rounds in Winter League play previous to Wednesday were 73-73-70. Locastro qualified for the U.S. Mid-Am in 2004 and 2006. In 2012, he and Harris Podvey teamed to win the NJSGA Four-Ball Championship.
“After winning the Four-Ball, I decided my swing wasn’t going to work for the long term,” said Locastro, 52. “I was all arms. I needed to learn to involve my whole body in my golf swing.”
McCormick, who won the 2008 State Open and played in the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco, collected four birdies, four bogeys and an eagle on the par-5, 550-yard No. 15. His 3-wood approach ended 10 feet from the cup.
“This is my second time winning the Winter League Pro Championship. It means a lot because all the pros here are good players. I enjoy playing in the Winter League. It keeps me from going stale,” said McCormick, 54.
Danny Melchionna played in all 23 Winter League events this season, and in all but one, he played in shorts. The windy, chilly weather on March 16 at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor Township finally got to him.
“I own a pizzeria, Padonno’s in Union, and I’m in front of an oven and I’m hot all the time,” Melchionna said.
Caliendo Winter League original and Hall of Famer John Sonatore completed his 54th season in the league.
AMATEUR GROSS
Anthony Fioretti 74
Greg Buliga 76
Tim McKenna 77
Merv Smith 77
Lou Fulgoni 79
Ken Jacobs 79
Joe Russo 79
Mike Locastro 79
Mike Paduano 80
John Capra 81
Bill Cambreleng 82
Barry Weisman 82
Jim Dufficy 83
Paul Leddy 84
Reece Evans 84
Eric Muse 84
Dan McQuilken 85
Darryl Jeffries 86
Rob Ortiz 86
PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mark McCormick, Suburban 70
Kevin Syring, Alpine 71
Baker Maddera, Ash Brook 73
Jim Famula, Royce Brook 74
Joe Galan, Alpine 74
Ken Pridgen, Suneagles 74
Marty Vybihal, Preakness Valley 75
Mike Lanzetta, Mansfield Learning 76
Damien Hamlett, Galloping Hill 77
Pete Busch, Galloping Hill 78
Joe Bush, Shackamaxon 78
Mat Kent, Fiddler’s Elbow 78
