Hannon, Lavecchia Win Inaugural Ultimate Team Event
Local knowledge went a long way toward help crowning a championship team when the New Jersey State Golf Association’s inaugural Ultimate Team Event played Monday, August 31, at Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson.
Dan LaVecchia and Larry Hannon of Trump National at Bedminster, both very familiar with Metedeconk National, earned the first championship of the UTE, combining for 69 points in Stableford scoring over three-nine hole events, to defeat runners-up John Kostin and Dan Zaccaro of Mountain View (67), with Brian Stagnitti and Mike Poley of Metedeconk National in third with 65 points.
Manasquan River’s Peter Green and Gary Lembo took the Gross title with 56 points. Chris Jonns and Tom Milana of Liberty National were Four-Ball titleists with 23 points; the Shamble title went to Jim Schulz and Mike Decker of Mercer Oaks with 24 points and Greg Moran and Antero Cortes of New Jersey National were Pinehurst winners with 23 points.
The newest NJSGA event included twosomes from clubs from throughout the State of New Jersey, with pitting 65 member clubs participating in a unique 27-hole format. Twosomes were designated by their clubs to participate.
“This Ultimate Team Event is designed to provide our members with an opportunity to compete with other member clubs throughout the state. The individual’s handicap is not relevant to being included in the field. The idea is to provide our members and member clubs with additional events that are competitive at one of the best courses in the state of New Jersey,” said Frank O’Brien, NJSGA president.
LaVecchia was a member at Metedeconk National from 1992 through 2014, but has switched to Trump National in Bedminster, a stone’s throw from his home in Bedminster. Hannon, who lives in Tewksbury, has played Metedeconk many times in a series of different events.
“If you’ve never played here before, you’re in trouble, I don’t care what the handicap is. There are blind shots. A lot of shots you have to know where to hit the ball,” said LaVecchia, an executive managing director for a financial firm who also plays golf in England where Stableford scoring is common.
“We played great. We had only one double bogey all day, so we scred on nearly every hole. I thought the event was great and well run. With 65 teams, it was packed. We’ll be back next year to defend out championship,” said Hannon, who works in insurance and played basketball at Drew University.
The highlight for the duo was an eagle that came on the par-5 fifth hole of the Four-Ball course when LaVecchia’s six iron from the fairway ended 10 feet from the cup.
“We played really well together. We probably had three bad holes,” said LaVecchia, a former football player at Seton Hall University and a native of Scotch Plains. “The course was great. The fairways were great and the greens were great.”
“The thought of this tournament being played was discussed last year and through the hard work of Director Handicapping and Member Services, Rich Kennedy, it has become a reality. We have had a tremendous response this year and look forward to expanding the program for years to come. Metedeconk National is a perfect host or this event,” O’Brien.
In the Ultimate Team Event, the teams played in three nine-hole different formats over the 27 holes in a series of three shotgun starts. Teams rotated in formats. One group of nine holes was played in four-ball format, with each partner playing his own ball and counting the low ball on each hole. A second nine holes was set up in a Pinehurst format, with each member teeing off, then playing the other’s second shot, and then playing the best shot the rest of the way.
A third nine holes was played in a Shamble format, with each member teeing off, selecting the better second shot, and then each partner playing a separate ball from that point the rest of the way.
“We want to reach the golfer who is not necessarily the best player at his club. This event is for the everyday member at an NJSGA club, who is representing his club. We want to reach those who can’t compete at the level of those who compete in our State Open and State Amateur championshps,” Kennedy said.
“We’re doing everything we can to give the players the feel that this is an important event. Whoever wins can be proud of themselves for representing their club,” he added.
The event was scored using Stableford (points) scoring for the entire event which is one point for Net Bogey, two points for Net Par, three points for Net Birdie and four points for Net Eagle and a hole-in-one on a Par 3. A double eagle is worth five points.
“This is about getting people together from clubs all around the state,” said Kevin Purcell, NJSGA Executive Director. "The sky is the limit with this event in the future. We have over 240 member clubs all over the state and once the word gets out on how enjoyable this event is, they will be chomping at the bit to play in it next year.”
“I love the fact that the NJSGA is conducting this event and that Metedeconk National is hosting it. We get a chance to play three different courses in three different formats,” said Chris Carton of Spring Lake. “I enjoy meeting golfers from other courses. The challenge this courses presents make it a perfect venue for this event. I think in the future clubs will have competitions to represent them and get out here like we did at Spring Lake,” Carton added.
