Upper Montclair Wins Inaugural Senior Interclub Matches

Led by a four-ball total of 73 from Frank Mastrosimone and Joe Skowronski, Upper Montclair Country Club won the new Adrian “Bud” Foley Trophy, emblematic of the NJSGA’s inaugural Senior Interclub Matches.

Eight-man teams (four four-ball duos) comprised of clubs representing the three Senior Interclub division winners squared off for the Foley Trophy at the Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell on a balmy Thursday, October 22.

Following Mastrosimone and Skowronski was Upper Montclair’s other “A” team of Bill Shinners and team captain Walt Janovic who returned a 75.

Adding to Upper Montclair’s success were the two “B” squads of Bill Cafarella and Mario Martino (78) and Dave Menapace and Charlie Rappaport (80).

Upper Montclair totaled 306, followed by Spring Lake with 313 and Canoe Brook with 319.

OFFICIAL SCORING PHOTO GALLERY

The Senior Interclub Matches, for male golfers 55 and older, included three four-ball, match-play rounds of section play, leading to a divisional winner. This year, three divisions were comprised of four clubs.

The championship took place in September and October.

Every team included two divisions differentiated by USGA Handicap Index titled the “A” division and the “B” division. The “A” division included golfers of any Handicap Index, while the “B” division included only golfers with a Handicap Index of 10.0 or higher (as of 9/1/15). Each team played with two A division four-ball teams and two B division four-ball squads.

“The overall strength of our team was the 10-handicappers (B teams). They were solid in every match,” Janovic said. “Our A teams were good, too, but the B teams won it today. We have a team in the Hoffman Cup (all ages included), so we loved the idea of the Senior Interclub Matches for the senior golfers, and at the end of the golf season.

“I also liked the camaraderie and meeting guys form other clubs and playing home and away matches at other great courses in the area, especially at this time of year. We only had 12 teams in the event this year, but we’re going to get the word out and help this grow.”

The concept for the Senior Interclub Matches was developed by the NJSGA last winter and came together rather quickly.

“We’re very pleased with 2015 as a starting point and expect the event to double to 24 teams next year,” said Kevin Purcell, NJSGA executive director. “We learned a lot about the sectional play. We’d like to make it easier for the captains to schedule the matches. We can only improve from here.”