Sussex Long-Drive Qualifier is a Family Affair

The 2019 Sussex County Long Drive Championship not only attracts golfers of all ages to try to hit their best drive of the golf season, it is great fun to be shared with family and friends too. Father Patrick Mullen and son Alex joined friend Kodie Hilbert to see if they could qualify for the August 30th Championship.

Each took their turn at hitting their tee shots. Kodie Hilbert went first and hit his best shot of 281 yards outdistancing his friend Patrick Mullen’s drive of 269. Son Alex qualified in the 1 -and-under Division with a drive of 172 yards.

Other contenders attempting to qualify for the Long Drive Championship were Mark Gualandi in the 18-to-54 Division with a drive of 275, Dudley Anderson, Joe Bonach and Tom Auletta in the 55 and over Division with long drives of 263, 249 and 279 respectively. Dona Wallerius qualified in the Women’s 18-to-54 Division with a drive of 187 and Dotty Murphy added her name to the list of qualifiers with a drive of 150 yards in the Women’s 55-and-over Division.

The top qualifier for the Championship remains two-time champion Rob Mack in the Men’s 18-to-54 Division with the longest drive overall of 320 yards. Other Division top qualifiers include Alex Mullen in the Men’s 17-and-under Division, Tom Auletta in the Men’s 55+ Division, Kim Fryer in the Women’s 18-to-54 Division and Mary Lou Nicoletti in the Women’s 55 + Division.

The Sussex County Long Drive Championship will be contested on Friday, Aug. 30th at the Black Bear Golf Club's long drive range between the hours of 4 and 7:30 p.m. Each contestant will have three golf balls to hit to determine the longest drives in each Division. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the Championship. Visitors are invited to come and cheer their favorites on to victory.

Photos of this event will be taken by Dr. John T. Whiting and can be viewed at Golf Event Photos Facebook in a photo album entitled “2019 Sussex County Long Drive Championship at Black Bear Golf Club”.

Other upcoming events at the Crystal Springs Golf Resort include the Parent/Junior Championship scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, the Black Bear, Bourbon & BBQ on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 and the popular 9 n Dine tournaments will continue at the Ballyowen Golf Club on Thursday and the Black Bear Golf Club on Friday afternoons. More information can be obtained by visiting the Crystal Springs Golf Resort website at https://www.crystalgolfresort.com/golf/events/.