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Finsterle leads senior championship after first round

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Steve Superick sinks a putt on the 11th hole Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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From left, Kevin Furin, Chuck Latsnic, and Darwin Stalnaker congratulate each other after finishing the first round of the senior tournament of the Fayette County Open Saturday at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Fred David keeps an on the ball as he drives from the 10th tee Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Mike Revak makes his putt on the ninth green Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard

Len Minnick drives the ball from the 10th tee Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Jim Morris rolls in his final put on the 18th green Saturday in the first round of the senior championship during the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Scott Goletz drives the ball from the 10th tee Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

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Jim Kubina sets up the ball for his putt at the 11th hole Saturday during the third round of the Fayette County Open at the Springdale Golf Club in South Union Township.

Mike Finsterle wasn’t too pleased with his opening two rounds of his first Fayette County Open.

He turned some of that disappointment around with a 2-over 72 Saturday at Springdale Golf Club to take the first-round lead of the two-day senior championship.

Finsterle leads a pair of Fayette County Open senior champions by two strokes. John Kingora, whose also won multiple Open titles, and Steve Superick, the defending champion, both shot 4-over 74.

“This is my first time around. This is all new to me,” said Finsterle, who has a three-round total of 234 in the Open championship. “I’m a veteran. I’ve focused pretty hard the last two days.”

The final round moves to Duck Hollow Golf Club today.

“I should be in the flow tomorrow,” said Finsterle. “I’ll tee it up and go. I’ll take whatever I can get.”

NICE SHOOTIN’: The field of 46 golfers doubled the rounds in the 60s over the first two days in the third round at Springdale.

Jeremy Enslen used his round of 1-under 69 to make up six strokes and surge into a tie with Pete Dzambo III atop the leaderboard.

Pat Calvaresi used six birdies Saturday for the low round of the tournament, a 3-under 67.

Marcus Ondra opened the tournament Thursday with a 1-under 69 and Dzambo carded a 3-under 68 Friday at Pleasant Valley Country Club.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Aaron Gizzi has been in golf for 15 years with last 14 spent at Lakeview Resort outside of Morgantown, W.Va.

Gizzi is the new Director of Golf Operations and a partner with the management group of Uniontown Country Club, so he’s new to the area. He decided to get to know his new region a little better by participating in his first Fayette County Open.

“You don’t see this anywhere,” Gizzi said of the four-day county championship. “This is a great idea and a great tournament.”

Gizzi shot a 1-over 71 Saturday in the third round for a three-day total of 18-over 230.

“I haven’t played these courses. It’s good to get out and see these different courses,” explained Gizzi.

Gizzi opened on his course with a 7-over 78, then followed with a 10-over 81 at Pleasant Valley.

“I didn’t play well at my course,” Gizzi said with a smile. “When I was done, I started to feel the pressure.”

Gizzi has enjoyed the experience so far.

“It’s a good time. It’s definitely unique,” said Gizzi.

THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING: The 9:30 a.m. tee time today at Duck Hollow Golf Club should provide a contrasting trio of personalities and golf with Bernie Wydo, George Knapp and John Lenkey playing together.

Wydo and Lenkey are former champions, and Wydo and Knapp are co-directors of the tournament. Lenkey is making a return after a couple year hiatus.

Knapp trails by three strokes in the senior championship.

FAMILY TIES: The Goletz brothers hold a one-stroke lead over the David brothers heading into today’s final round.

Justin Goletz had another round of 70 for a three-day total of 224, while his brother Scott shot 79 to run his three-round total to 229.

Rich David shot 72 for a three-day total of 228, while Fred finished with 74 for a 226.

The Dzambos are the lone father-son combo in the tournament. The younger Pete is tied for the lead at 215, while his dad Pete slid to 252.

JUST HAVIN’ FUN: Ian Picosky, the lone leftie in the field, rebounded with a 76 in the third round after a pair of 83s in the first two days.

His tournament turned around Friday with his second shot on No. 11 at Pleasant Valley Country Club when it landed in a parked cart in front of the green. After the unusual drop, he had a good laugh and eventually parred the hole.

That turned his attitude around and he’s played pretty good over the last 24 holes.

DEAR ALMA MATER: Laurel Highlands has by far the most recent graduates in the field.

Leading the way for the Mustangs are the David brothers, Harison Laskey (222), and Santino Marchitello (231).

Among the LH alum in the field is Kevin Gaydos, who returned to the Open after working on his law school degree. Gaydos has a three-round total of 238.

Ryan Bashour leads the way for recent Brownsville grads with a 231.

STARTING OFF: Bob Cippolletti, Kevin Furin and Jerry Zehala open the fourth round with an 8 a.m. tee time. The lead group of Ondra, Enslen and Dzambo will tee off at 10:42 a.m.

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