Crystal Springs hosts 3rd annual tournament

Crystal Springs Resort hosted the 3rd Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Open at Ballyowen Golf Club on July 10, where active and retired law enforcement officers competed for the title of “Law Enforcement’s Best Golfers”.
In all there were 56 teams of 2 golfers each, representing various PBA’s, police departments and other law enforcement agencies from across the state and beyond.
“We were very pleased with the turnout this year,” said Chris Mulvihill of Crystal Springs Resort. “The word seems to be spreading. This year we had multiple teams coming in from out of state including golfers representing Nassau County, East Hampton, Homeland Security and NYPD, including an NYPD team with a retired player who flew in from California.”
Prior to the 1 p.m. shotgun tee off, the event kicked off with New Jersey State Troopers conducting a helicopter flyover of the golf course and then landing on the tee box of the first hole.
In attendance at the event were special guests Pat Colligan, President of the NJ State PBA, Harry Phillips, executive director of the Police Unity tour and Matt Palardy, Director of Law Enforcement Relations for The National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund.
The format of play was 2-person best ball with the four teams with the lowest score qualifying for a one-hole shootout to win the tournament. The shootout is a replay of the 18th hole and takes place after everyone has played the first 18 holes and had dinner so everyone can watch the best 4 teams compete for the championship.
“The shootout is quite dramatic and a lot of fun to watch,” said Mulvihill. “There is a patio up above the 18th green with a great view of the entire hole, and let me tell you, this is one tough audience! I think police are used to getting ribbed by their peers, but you’re talking about some serious pressure here when these guys are trying to make a putt for the win.”
Brothers and 2018 Champions Mark and Dan Dubois from Wayne PD made the final 4 and put up a fight to try and retain the crown, but they ended up with a bogey along with Mike Suttlehan and Chris Sylvester from New Windsor (N.Y.) PD and Chris Taroncher and James Costa of Margate City PD.
In the end, it was the duo of Geoff Jeppson and Joe Della Serra of the Port Authority PD who prevailed with a 4 for a par by Jeppson.
“I’ve played Ballyowen a number of times and I knew the green, but after watching a couple of other guys get rattled by the heckling and miss their putts, I took my time to line up my putt and calm my nerves, and it paid off,” said Jeppson who sealed the victory with a 10’ putt.
“I joked with my guys that we couldn’t let the trophy leave the state with all the different New York teams in the mix,” said Pat Colligan, New Jersey State PBA President. “But ultimately it looks like we reached a compromise with a win by the Port Authority.”
In addition to bragging rights, Jeppson and Della Serra won a First Responder Flex Membership, for the Port Authority PD, which entitles the agency to send 2 golfers per day for the next 12 months for unlimited golf Monday through Friday at Black Bear Golf Club and Wild Turkey or Ballyowen on Tuesdays.