Vanicek, Shields, Chin & Pieczonka Win Coakley Memorial At Galloping Hill
The foursome of Steve Vanicek, Elton Shields, Huey Chin and Jerzy Pieczonka combined for a net total of 15-under-par 56 to win the 2015 Francis X. Coakley Memorial Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
Vanicek, Shields, Chin and Pieczonka won by five strokes over the team of Jose Hernandez, Peter Louie, Greg Martucci and Mike D’Agostino. Tied for third place at 62 were two teams: George John York, George Pavlik, Frank Martin and Eduardo Sosa; and, Edward Magyar, Rick Polce, Gene O’Leary and Vincent Campa.
Francis X. Coakley served as head pro at Galloping Hill from 1932-42, and then joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served as a First Lieutenant in C Company, 264th Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division of Elizabeth, NJ. He died tragically when the troopship Leaopoldville struck by U-boat on Dec. 24, 1944.
Coakley-Russo golf course at Lyons Veterans Hospital named after him. The Coakley Memorial tournament at Galloping Hill still conducted each September.
