FALCON'S FIRE GOLF CLUB

FINAL MAJOR PROVIDES SEVERAL EXCITING FINISHES;
PAUL COPE CARDS EIGHT BIRDIES SUNDAY!

(L) John Bessette & John Marshall

John Bessette (Championship) & John Marshall (A), backed up their victories in June at the Bob Mirus Memoiral at Mission Inn with victories in the final major of the 2012 Orlando Golfweek Amateur Tour. Saturday's first round was played at Metrowest and Sunday at Falcon's Fire.

Bessette started Sunday at Falcon's Fire four strokes back of first day leader Garrett Morrison, who shot 72 at Metrowest on Saturday. Morrison stumbled out of the blocks Sunday with a 44 on his oopening nine holes to fall off the pace. Christian Vozza, playing in the group ahead opened with 36 Sunday to pull within one of Bessette. David Elder, a member of the Jacksonville tour, was right there as he opened with 38 and was also one back at the turn. It all came down to the last hole as Bessette, Elder & Vozza were tied after 17 holes. Bessette's birdie on #9 at Falcon's Fire (their last hole) was the winning margin. Bessette posted rounds of 76-72-148. Vozza and Elder shared second after 78-71-149 & 76-73-149 respectively. Morrison was fourth, 72-79-151.

John Marshall was also a come-from-behind winner. He opened with a solid 77 Saturday at Metrowest and followed it up with an even better performance Sunday at Falcon's Fire with 74 to finish at 151 for 2 days. First day leader Tom Dillon (75) held on to a one stroke lead at the turn, but it all fell apart on #12 when Marshall made birdie and Dillon suffered a triple bogey for a four shot swing. Dillon climbed to within 2 strokes on the 18th tee, but Marshall made par to close the deal. Al Brosman, one of three players who opened with 79, carded a solid 75 Sunday to take third place alone. Paul Cope shot the round of the day Sunday as he posted 8 birdies on his way to a closing 72. Starting the day way back after an opening 83 Saturday, he did all he could as he rocketed up the leaderboard into fourth place. Dion's 158 was good for a one shot victory over Ed Paterniti in senior A.

Rob Kempinski, Senior Championship Flight

The senior Championship flight belonged to Rob Kempinski. He was steady all weekend. At Metrowest on Saturday, he fired the best round of the day with an even par 72. Sunday he added a good 75 to take the crystal trophy by six strokes over Bill Foster.

(L-R) Jim Kenney (B), Josh Johnson (D), Jay Freeman (C)

In the B flight, Jim Kenney was the steadiest of them all. A pair of 81's was good enough to outlast the B flight field. Neil Corbett also played steady golf as his 84-82-166 put in second place alone. Brad Bettin followed an opening 85 at Metrowest with an 82 at Falcon's Fire to finish third at 167. Three players tied for fourth at 169--Mike Salik, Ray Rodriguez, and Chet Rakowski. Bettin's finish enabled him to win the senior B title and crystal trophy. Ray Rodriguez, Chet Parker and Chet Rakowski tied third on 169.

C flight produced the only playoff of the weekend. Jay Freeman and Michael Moore matched 2-day totals of 171--Moore with a steady 85-86 and Freeman with a hot 80 on Saturday followed by 91 Sunday. Still, Jay was able to prevail on the first extra hole for the title.

Josh Johnson continued his dominance of D flight by shooting 90-90-180 to win by a whopping 14 strokes. James Armstrong was second.

Next event is September 1 at Disney Palm.