Carneys win Gannon Mixed Classic

LYNN – It has seemed to have become almost expected that the major tournaments at Gannon Golf Course would be decided in a sudden death playoff as for a second straight year the Gannon Mixed Classic couldn’t be decided in 36 holes.Actually, it took 37 to decide a winner.A par on the first extra hole by John Carney was enough to give him and partner Denise Carney the win over Lou Ricci and Roberta Pelland after the two teams had finished the tournament at 17-under par.The remnants of Hurricane Earl were far offshore by the time the teams began the tournament on Saturday, but Earl still was a constant reminder and gusting winds would be a constant companion to the players for two days.The high winds didn’t drive up the scores as several teams recorded stellar rounds to open up on Saturday. Dan and Eloise Deveney began the final round in the lead after a marvelous round of 10-under that put them one shot ahead of Don Foglietta-Barb Zihal; Fred Murphy-Deb Murphy; the Carneys and Kevin Santry-Mary Hunt.In all, 14 teams entered the final 18 holes within four shots of the lead and possessing a legitimate chance to win. The conditions were ripe for scoring and Ben Friedman and Nancy Gheringhelli took advantage, posting a stellar round of 10-under to finish at minus-16, one shot out of the playoff.Ricci and Pelland matched that 10-under score to post 17-under and lead in the clubhouse. The teams of Steve Hayward-Gina Mantino and Jared Burke-Patty Roderick also carded rounds of 10-under on Sunday.It looked like Ricci and Pelland might take the title as many of the leading teams faltered down the stretch before the Carneys finished with a Sunday round of 8-under in the penultimate group to tie for the lead and force the playoff.In the playoff, John Carney’s nifty chip shot from left of the first green led to an 8-foot putt for a par. Carney made, swinging the pressure back to Ricci, whose six-footer for par slid past the hole.