Full field tees off for City titles
For the second straight year, a full field of 184 golfers will compete for the 27th Cape Coral City Championship at Coral Oaks Golf Course.
The defending champion and a past champion in both the men’s and women’s divisions are registered for another crack at the prestigious titles. The women’s division has its largest field in several years with 15 entries.
B.J. Kuhn, the men’s defending champion, is joined in the field by two-time champion Donnie Hopper (2005-06). Kuhn, playing in the tournament for the first time, claimed the top honor by one stroke over then-defending champion Jim Marcelak last fall.
Cape High student-athlete Brooke Ciccone returns to defend the women’s division title she won last year by five strokes. Past champion Gina Falvey also is entered.
Players will tee off early Saturday morning and again Sunday in an effort to track down titles in one of six handicapped divisions. The 36-hole tournament follows Friday’s Pro-Am tournament that boasts a full field of 108 players on 27 teams as well.
“This is the strongest pro-am field yet,” said Allen Manguson, Coral Oaks golf director.
Manguson said the course has taken 45 inches of rainfall since June 1 with 36.2 inches of that falling since July 1, not counting October.
“The course is a bit wet but in good shape,” said Manguson. “It’s muddy in some spots, but drying out as we go. We’ve been cart path only for a while and will allow lift, clean and place in the fairways.”
North Fort Myers High graduate George McNeill remains the tournament’s only three-time champion. The current PGA Tour player won the title in 1995-97. Connor Arendell still holds the course record of 66 and the tournament record of 136 for 18 holes.
Visit the Breeze website for tee times, scores and reports on each round of play this weekend.