Democrat Tourney
Coming Up

By Matthew Kleiner
Villa Roma Golf Pro
CALLICOON — August 11, 2000 – Fifty-six two-man teams will tee off today in the 19th annual Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tourney at the Villa Roma here.
Most of the teams will be vying for the 16 available spots in the Championship Flight. This year the field is loaded with past champions with different partners.
Charles Johnston, winner in 1989, is playing with Jim Bowers to form the “Roscoe Connection.”
Dr. Peter Rymer, a ’96 winner, will be bringing his son Matthew to test the best the county has to offer.
’95 champ Walter Herzog returns to team up with Liberty’s Billy Stoddard Jr. while ’89 winner Terry Wolcott will partner up with Bob Simpson Jr.
Other teams expected to challenge for the title are David Solomon and Jack Jordan, Ricky Schmidt and Tom Drobysh, Gregg Semenetz and Gregg Semenetz Jr., and Delph Gustitus and Billy Phillips.
They all will be trying to capture the title now held by six-time champion Ken Cohen and his partner Barry Winter. Cohen, fresh off his record sixth Villa Roma Club Championship, is ready to roll. The Cohen-Winter team will be a prohibitive favorite as the 2000 Democrat gets underway.
A second-year team which was one triple bogey away from the championship flight last year is Jared and Eric Kubenik of Jeffersonville. Jared has been improving at a rapid rate this year.
This past weekend he took Cohen to the 33rd hole of the 36-hole Villa Roma Club Championship.
Jared also defeated the previous two champions at the Villa Roma — Greg Semenetz and Marvin Newberg — on the way to the finals. He and his uncle Eric are out to prove that last year was just a slip up.
This year also has the youngest team ever in the event. Fourteen year old Sean Semenetz and 15-year-old Ben Morganstein will be in the field — and not just to compete for fun. Last week they “ham and egged” it to a 1-under 71. Don’t shake your head if they qualify for the Championship Flight and then beat somebody.
Odds on Winning ‘Democrat’
2-1 Cohen-Winter…3-time champs know how to win.
5-1 Semenetz-Semenetz Jr.…Could be a repeat final
6-1 Gustitus-Phillips…Another Villa Roma team playing well
7-1 Solomon-Jordan…This team is always dangerous
8-1 Kubenik-Kubenik…If Uncle Eric can win a few holes — maybe?
10-1 Rymer-Rymer…To go deep into event experience is needed
10-1 Schmidt-Drobysh…Experienced team always a factor.
Pro Picks
Low Qualifying Round…67
Championship Flight Cut…73