By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
In a fantastic finish, the Lake Monticello men’s golf tournament came down to play-off on the eighteenth hole after newcomer Mark Hogan and veteran Rob Chiovaro both posted scores of 155 for 36 holes. The play-off was set for the eighteenth hole which is a par five that some of the better players try to reach in two shots. Neither player went for this highly risky strategy. They both laid-up on their second shots leaving an easy third shot over a small pond to the green. The third shots ended up almost together about 25 feet short of the hole. It looked like two pars were likely and the play-off would continue. Chiovaro putted first and he rolled his putt into the hole. Hogan was unable to match him and Chiovaro is the 2025 champion.
The Lake Monticello golf championship tournament is a two day event. There are four separate competitions. The open men’s competition decides the official men’s champion, but there are also men’s competitions in a senior’s category for men ages 55-69, and a super-senior’s category for men 70 and up. There is also a women’s championship. There are prizes of gift certificates for the top finishers in all categories. The winners in the men’s and senior men’s tournament receive a gift certificate for $75. Second place in gross score in both these divisions receive $50. The best net and second best net score receives $45 and $25 respectively. A player may only win one award so if a winner or second place finisher in the gross score is also first or second in the net score category the next best score in net wins. Gift certificates for the super-seniors were $40 for best gross and $20 for second best gross and $15 for best net. The lady’s awards were $30 for best gross and $15 for best net.
Obviously, runner-up in gross score in the open division was Marc Hogan who lost in the play-off. Top player in the net competition in the open division was Mike Mundell with a net of 145. Second net in that division went to Keith Trapp with 150. The open competitors play from the men’s white tees, while the senior and super-senior competitors play from the senior yellow tees. In the senior division, champion honors went to Eric Parlet who carded 77/75 and 78/76 for a gross score total of 155. Runner-up in the gross score competition went to Chris Farris who shot a gross 167. He was deemed the second finisher based on a review of score cards with Tom Sick who also recorded a 167. In the low net competition, Tom Mundell and Doug Weaver tied at 148. Mundell was declared the first-place finisher based on a comparison of score cards.
In the super-senior division, Jim Beach was the runaway winner with the best overall gross score of the tournament, a very impressive 73 followed by an 80 for153. Second place in gross score went to Karl Bergstresser with a two-day total of 168. The winners in the net competition were Kevin McCarthy with two-day total of 155. He was followed by Thomas Loucks who finished with a net of 162.
The women’s competition drew only three entrants. The top gross score was posted by Robin Wink who is fairly new to the Lake course. She has played with the eighteen hole ladies for the past three years. Winner of the best net score went to Katie Mundell with a net of 148.
The tournament, thankfully was played in hot weather that was not as hot as predicted, only low nineties as opposed to high nineties. Players handled the heat appropriately. The championship tournament was very competently handled by Lake Monticello Assistant Pro Mason Chiovaro.
