Early June marks the first round matches of the Mastroni Team Championship. Much like the President’s Cup, the Mastroni is a match play single elimination format. It too is a handicapped event and strokes for opponents are a factor. This team event provides drama throughout the whole tournament.
Congratulations to Lou Pintek and Joey Pintek, the 2011 Mastroni Team Champions!
Congratulations to Mike McKenna and Oren Shake, the 2010 Mastroni Team Champions!
Congratulations to Pat Carriero and Ed Colon , the 2009 Mastroni Team Champions!!
Congratulations to Paulo Rodella and Peter Nikitadis, the 2008 Mastroni Team Champions!!
Congratulations to Jack Gillis and Bob Bennett, the 2007 Mastroni Team Champions!
Bill and I had to go 23 grueling holes against Mark Haba and Dirk Vanderblue in the semifinals. Bill had to make a 12-footer on 18 just to extend the match. We halved 1 and 2 with pars, then we all missed birdie putts on 3, halving with pars. On No. 4, Dirk was on in 2, about 25 feet away. Bill and I both bunkered our approaches, and after Dirk came up short on his birdie putt, I knocked in an 8-footer for par. Dirk then made a clutch 3-footer and we went to No. 5. Dirk hit the green in 2, about 30 feet away, and I reached the green also, about 35 feet away. I putted first, left it 2 feet under the hole. Dirk was next and slid it about 2 1/2 feet by, with a tough left-to-right putt coming back. He missed it, and I made it to end the match.
In the finals against Dave and Ed Nadolny, Ed made pars on 1 and 7 with strokes--everything else was halved-- and they were 2-up going to 8. Bill made birdie from 2 feet (after Dave made a 15-footer to save par), then chipped in for eagle on 9 to square the match. I parred 10 to win and Bill stuck it stiff on 11 to put us 2-up. He won 12 with a par, we halved 13 with par and he won 14 with par to go 4-up with 4 to go. I made a 3-footer on 15 for par to end it.
Five tough matches, including a taxing quarterfinal against defending champs Bill Fortune and Ray Klein, but Bill was conceded a birdie on 18 to give us a 2-up win. Probably the most mentally draining tournament I've ever experienced, especially with the heat and all.
Champions:
Joe Targowski, Joe Targowski, Jr.
Runners-Up:
Lou Pintek, Frank Martinelli
Semi-Finalists:
Al Valentine, Pat McKinley