Cole, Fiste, Hunt lead Gannon club championships

LYNN – It’s setting up to be a two-horse race for the Gannon Golf Course men’s club championship next weekend as Mike Cole and John Lynch Jr. have given themselves a serious gap on the rest of the players who survived the first 36 holes of the championship over the weekend.Cole, fresh off playing in the qualifying rounds for the Mass. Amateur earlier in the week at The Country Club in Brookline, had steady rounds of 70-73 to give him a three-shot lead over Lynch, who fired a 1-under par 69 on Saturday but struggled to a 76 in windy conditions on Sunday. That duo has a seven-shot lead on third-place Ben Friedman, who carded rounds of 73-79 over the first 36 holes.Jay Fiste is in fourth place through two rounds, firing a pair of 78s for a total of 156. Jim Phelan sits in fifth with Mike Hickey, John Boland and Matt O’Hare rounding out the eight men who made the cut of 163 to play on the final weekend.In the net championship, Joe Crowley shot rounds of 72-72 to hold a two-shot lead over Art Cusack. Matt DeBenedictis is three shots further back.The ladies championship also sets up to be an interesting race.Jane Fiste led Mary Hunt by three shots after Saturday but carded an 88 on Sunday while Hunt shot 85 to pull even with 36 holes remaining. Tara Friedman is five back after rounds of 87-88.In the net flight, Cathy Breslow’s rounds of 77-73 give her a three-shot lead over Nancy Gheringelli.The ladies did crown two champions over the weekend as Hunt won the senior club championship while Julie Lombara’s rounds of 72-75 gave her a nine-shot win over Colleen Richards, Phyllis Berg and Helen Sidman in the net division.