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Golfers kick off long drive qualifiers

| 31 Jul 2018 | 02:14
    Black Bear Golf Club’s GM and Event Coordinator Ryan Delaney uses a range finder to measure Joe Giammarino’s shot.
    Black Bear Golf Club’s GM and Event Coordinator Ryan Delaney uses a range finder to measure Joe Giammarino’s shot.
    Anthony Fioretti takes his turn in the tee box. He qualified with a tee shot of 262 yards.
    Anthony Fioretti takes his turn in the tee box. He qualified with a tee shot of 262 yards.
    Anthony Fioretti, Andrew Scienca, Joe Giammarino, Black Bear’s GM Ryan Delaney, Mark Ski Buddy, Mary Lou Nicoletti and Buffy Whiting take part in the Sussex Long Drive Championship qualifier kick off at Black Bear Golf Club.
    Anthony Fioretti, Andrew Scienca, Joe Giammarino, Black Bear’s GM Ryan Delaney, Mark Ski Buddy, Mary Lou Nicoletti and Buffy Whiting take part in the Sussex Long Drive Championship qualifier kick off at Black Bear Golf Club.
    Warwick New York’s Joe Giammarino hits his tee shot 256 yards to qualify for the Senior Men’s Division Championship.
    Warwick New York’s Joe Giammarino hits his tee shot 256 yards to qualify for the Senior Men’s Division Championship.

Franklin — The 2018 Sussex County Long Drive qualifier competition kicked off at the Black Bear Golf Club on Friday, July 27, with a number of golfers attempting to dethrone defending 2017 Champion Tom Fox and other Division Winners.
Among the early competitors was 2017 Senior Women’s second place finisher Mary Lou Nicoletti who qualified with a drive of 197 yards which bettered her 2nd place 2017 drive of 175 yards by 22 yards.
Golfers compete in 6 Divisions: Men’s Division (Under 60), Senior Men’s Division (60 and Older), Women’s Division (Under 60), Senior Women’s Division (60 and Older), Junior Girl’s Division (17 and under)Junior Boy’s Division (17 and under) for bragging rights as the 2018 Champions and great prizes awarded at the Long Drive Championship. Each registered golfer receives a bucket of balls to warm up, three qualifying long drive balls, and a gift sleeve of golf balls. The top 10 division qualifiers earn the right to compete in the Championship scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31 at the Black Bear Golf Club.
The 9th Annual Sussex County Long Drive Championship is hosted by the Crystal Springs Golf Resort under the direction of Black Bear Golf Club’s General Manager Ryan Delany and his staff.
Each golfer is given 3 golf balls to be hit into a long drive grid marked by yardage markers. To be counted the golf ball must come to rest within the grid.
The drive of each golfer’s drive is measured by Black Bear’s General Manager Ryan Delaney using an electronic range finder.
Each of the participants in Friday’s Qualifier was able to qualify. The longest drive of the 1st qualifier was hit by Andrew Sciacca of 275 yards followed by the drives of Anthony Fioretti’s 262 yard drive and Joe Giammarino 256 yard drive. The long drive for the ladies was Mary Lou Nicoletti’s drive of 197 yards.
Area golfers who wish to qualify for the Sussex County Long Drive Championship can participate in weekly qualifying events held at the Black Bear Golf Club on most Friday evenings between 5 and 8 p.m.
— Story and photos courtesy John Whiting