50th Member-Guest at CCC begins today

NORTH NORWICH – What kind of comeback heroics can we expect this year at Canasawacta Country Club’s men’s member-guest tournament?

Reaching its 50th incarnation, the golden anniversary event will be hard-pressed to upstage last year’s thrilling playoff win for two-time champions Tim Mirabito and guest Kenny Stewart. Mirabito and Stewart made up four shots over the final 18 holes to force the tournament’s first playoff. On the first hole, Mirabito sunk a downhill birdie putt in front of a large throng of fans and supporters to clinch his third overall championship

While last year’s tournament victory was unique, 2006 winners Tom and Matt Ryan pulled off perhaps the greatest comeback win in the tourney’s long history making up six shots for their title.

Mirabito and Stewart are one team out a 100 that began play with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. today. A second shotgun start is slated for 1:30 p.m., said C.C.C. head professional, David Branham. “This year is pretty special, and this has to be one of the most successful member-guests in Central York,” Branham said.

Bagpiper extraordinaire Steve Cady will provide a traditional golf feel marking the occasion with music at 7:40 a.m., and member-guest veterans John Kolbas, Frank Mirabito, George Denning, and Jim Rotundo will serve as honorary starters at 7:50 a.m..

“We tried to choose players (as starters) who are legends in this tournament,” Branham said, who noted Mirabito is among the alumni of champions, while Rotundo has played in more member-guest tourneys than any other player in history.