Past City champs back on top
Three previous champions came home with another winner’s trophy Sunday at the conclusion of the 27th Cape Coral City Championship at Coral Oaks Golf Course.
The women’s flight has two champions, one with the lowest gross score, and one with the lowest net score. Two-time gross score champion Gina Falvey returned after a two-year hiatus to win again with a 36-hole total of 163. She won in 2011 and 2012 previously. Brooke Ciccone, also a two-time champ, finished second seven shots back at 170.
Vi Ney, 84, whom tournament director Allen Manguson calls “The Legend,” won the women’s low net score trophy for the second year in a row. The handicap is subtracted from the player’s actual score to arrive at a net score.
Jim Marcelak became a two-time winner by outdueling Eric Costa and two other challengers in the men’s championship flight. Marcelak, the 2013 champion, was runner-up last year. He claimed his second championship by six shots over three others with a 36-hole score of 147.
“He’s so steady,” Manguson said. “He’s a good player that just keeps grinding it out.”
Marcelak and Costa (153) were tied after the first round and were paired together for Sunday’s final round. Marcelak double-bogeyed the first hole while Costa birdied it.
“I was down by three after the first hole, but I knew it was going to be a long day. Again, patience is the key to coming back,” Marcelak said.
After the turn on the back nine Costa, a freshman at FGCU playing in his first City Championship, still held a one-shot lead. That held until Marcelak birdied number 14.
Holes 15, 16, and 17 proved to be Costa’s undoing as he shot double, triple, and double bogeys to fall out of contention.
“(Costa) is a great player. He hits the ball farther than I do, but he just wasn’t as accurate today. He’ll get that worked out,” Marcelak said.
Approaching the last hole, Marcelak knew he had a comfortable lead.
“I used enough club to hit it over the water and stay out of trouble,” he said.
Asked if he would be back to defend his title, Marcelak replied, “This is a tremendous tournament. Allen and his team make it fun to play. The only thing preventing me from returning will be if my son is playing college football next fall, and I go to his game.”
Tim Murphy turned in another achievement in the Championship flight. The low senior in each flight also receives a trophy. Murphy won the low senior award for the fifth year in a row. He describes himself as a self-taught player who loves to compete. He played in his eighth City tournament this week, and has been playing for over 30 years.
“The wind out there today made the course play long,” Murphy said. “I attribute my winning to staying hard at it, and practicing.”
Mark Ludden was the winner in the A Flight. He shot 73 Sunday to overtake and beat his friend and first-round leader Phil Everhart by three strokes.
“I told him (Everhart) last night that I was coming after him,” Ludden said. “I hit the ball really well all day. I kept it on the fairways and greens and didn’t get into a lot of trouble today. I’ve been playing this tournament for 20 years and never won, so this feels really good.”