Allshouse & DeNezza take 22nd Senior Better-Ball
Bob Allshouse and Dave DeNezza receive the cystal from Vice President, Dr. James Mahoney
Farmington, PA – The 22nd Pennsylvania Senior Better-Ball Championship sponsored by the Allegheny Health Network was held at the spectacular Mystic Rock Course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. First round leaders of both the Senior and Super-Senior divisions made sure that there would be no suspense on who the ultimate victors would be. At 13-under-par 131, Hannastown Country Club members Bob Allshouse and Dave DeNezza eclipsed the field by two strokes to win the Senior Division. The Super-Senior division was taken by Joe Ruby, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, and Mike McGuire, Hannastown Country Club, as they fired a staggering 15-under-par 129 to win the division by eight strokes.
Roc Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
After day one, the Senior Division was still up for grabs as there were eight teams within four strokes of the lead. Former champions Roc Irey, Lookaway Golf Club, and Tom Bartolacci Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club, started strong with three birdies through the first eight holes of day two. The duo bogeyed number nine and couldn’t get many putts to drop on the backside and finished at 6-under-par for the tournament and a fifth place finish. Playing in the same pairing, Ken Phillips and Marlin Detwiler, both of Lancaster Country Club, made a strong run with birdies on five of the first seven holes on the back nine, but a bogey on the 17th (par 3, 181 yards) ended their momentum as they finished in third place at 9-under-par.
Ken Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
In a strong day for Hannastown Country Club, another member, Joe Corsi, and his partner Stan Namola of Seven Oaks Country Club completed a 6-under-par 66 to take the clubhouse lead at 11-under-par. The twosome rolled in seven birdies on the day but ended the day with a bogey at the tough 18th hole (par 4, 432 yards) that gave the leaders some breathing room. The Corsi/Namola duo would settle for second place at 133. Byron Whitman, Golden Oaks Golf Club, and Kelly Patton, Heidelberg Country Club, would finish in fourth place with fine rounds of 69-67 for a total of 136.
Day one leaders Allshouse/DeNezza did not rest with the lead and fired another division-leading 6-under-par round on day two. With six birdies in the first thirteen holes, the two simply had to grind out pars in order to finish at a 13-under-par 131 for the tournament to win by two strokes.
"It's nice to finally win one after going 0-for-9 years, and to win it with Dave," said Allshouse. DeNezza replied, "We tied here in 2009 in the US Senior Am Qualifier to go to Fort Worth, and I ended up winning the playoff, so it is special to win together here. The golf course was fantastic as well as the competition."
Champions Mike McGuire and Joe Ruby
The Super-Senior division had no such drama. Day one leaders Ruby/McGuire started to roll on day one with a birdie on No. 10 (par 4, 336 yards) and an eagle on No. 11 (par 5, 507 yards). They had another three birdies on the back nine, to come in in 30 to finish with a 9-under-par total of 63, leaving them five strokes clear of the field. On day two, Ruby, apparently not satisfied with that lead, birdied four in a row starting with No. 3 (par 3, 149 yards) and ending with No. 6 (par 4, 361 yards). The partners’ only bogey for the entire tournament came on the tricky 12th (par 3, 151).
"I was lucky to have Joe as a partner today, he was lights out. It must have been that home course advantage," said McGuire. Ruby added, "Mike played awesome the first day, he made everything he looked at and it was just fun to watch. I just tried to contribute today and we're happy to earn the victory."
Notes – Congratulations to John Rodney, Diamond Run Golf Club, who made a hole-in-one on day two on hole #3 from 149 yards.
We would first and foremost like to thank Superintendant Andy Bates and his staff for their incredible efforts to keep the course in playable conditions after overnight rains of nearly two inches. Also, special recognition goes to General Manager Chris Plummer, Director of Operations Brian Anderson, Golf Professional Ryan Carmen, the entire staff and membership of Nemacolin Woodlands for their dedication and outstanding service. Special thanks also go to our corporate partner, Allegheny Health Network.