Anthony Sorentino wins his third Syron Memorial
WATERFORD TWP. » To say that Anthony Sorentino was happy with the shot he hit to clear the bunker on No. 16 Sunday at Pontiac Country Club would be incorrect. He was not. Just the opposite.
“It’s such an easy shot. I thought he (Brian Lesperance) was going to make par, and I just wanted a two-shot lead to get to (No.) 18. I mean, the place to miss is right. It’s an uphill, easy chip, and I hit such a bad shot,” Sorentino admitted of his frustration of carding a four on the par-3 16th. “And I hadn’t made a bogey.”
It was, in fact, the only bogey that Sorentino made in Sunday’s final round of the 54th annual Frank Syron Memorial Tournament, and one of just six all weekend, against 14 birdies, leaving him at 9-under 207 for the weekend.
Was it enough? Well, Lesperance left him an opening by also bogeying at No. 16, then both were even on the par-3 No. 17, and birdied the par-5 18th hole, leaving Sorentino with the two-stroke cushion he’d wanted.
It’s the third time Sorentino has won it, also claiming the trophy in 2012 and 2020, but he plays the tournament pretty much every year, and if he sticks with his game plan, he’s usually up near the top of the leaderboard. He joins a handful of other golfers who’ve won the tournament three times each.
“I’m usually in contention. But yeah, I mean, sometimes you just get beat right? I mean, Brian shot a 7-under, and that wins probably 60 percent of the time,” Sorentino said. “Today I was hitting it good so it was kinda like, you know …not an easy day but at least a smooth sailing day.”
First-round leader Dan Wood, who shared the lead with Sorentino heading into Sunday, shot a 1-over 73 for the second straight day to finish at 211, and in fourth place, one stroke behind Greg Davies.
Dan Alcock and John Quigley both shot 212 to tie for fifth, while Austin Kreger and Sean Friel shot 213s to tie for seventh.
Last year’s champion, Drew Coble, shot a 2-under 214 for his three rounds, finishing ninth.
Lake Orion’s David Praet bounced back from shooting a 6-over 78 in Round 1 with a 6-under third-round 66 to finish in a four-way tie for 10th with Josh Shaw, Lucas Belanger and Razmig Boghikian, all at even-par 216.
It was an emotional tournament for the Syron family that runs it, as it was the first time it had been run without its two co-founders, Lloyd and Frank Jr., the sons of its namesake, Frank Sr., the original owner of Pontiac Country Club.
“This tournament is our heart and soul,” said an emotional Mike Syron, as he announced the winner.
He was also quick to thank the PCC’s maintenance crew, which had to hand-water the greens every night, after issues with the course’s irrigation system.
Unlike some events, which change tremendously over the years, the Syron is locked in time in Sorentino’s mind, the same as it always was.
“No, I think the ball goes farther now, so it’s a little bit easier course, but that’s it,” Sorentino said.
“Everyone drinks, and has fun. It’s the Fourth of July weekend, so it’s a it’s a party.”
For his part, Sorentino — a Rochester Hills resident who is an assistant prosecutor in Macomb County — has a plan of attack when he plays in the tournament, one that the doesn’t deviate from.
“I’ve played in so many, I know kind of what happens.
Like everyone comes together,” Sorentino said. “But I have like a set game plan that I just use because I can’t drive greens and stuff like certain others can.
“So I play like, exactly the same way.
“No deviation and just play.”
The key, too, is the start. “The key is these first three four holes, because it’s birdie, par, birdie. Sure. And get going.
“You build in a little cushion.
“And then whatever happens the rest of the day, kind of go off that,” he said.
Indeed, Sorentino birdied No. 1 and No. 3 in each of the three rounds, adding a birdie on No. 1 in Friday’s opening round, shaving seven strokes off his final total in those three holes alone.
At Pontiac Country Club, July 1-3 (Par 72)
FINAL ROUND
207— Anthony Sorentino (6870-69)
209— Brian Lesperance (7069-70)
210— Greg Davies (68-72-70) 211 — Dan Wood (65-73-73) 212— Dan Alcock (67-72-73) 212— John Quigley (71-68-73) 213— Austin Kreger (71-7369)
213— Sean Friel (72-71-70) 214— Drew Coble (71-73-70) 216— David Praet (78-72-66) 216— Josh Shaw (73-74-69) 216 — Lucas Belanger (6873-75)
216— Razmig Boghikian (7071-75)
217— Jason May
220— Chase Curtis 220— Larry Sterling Jr. 220 — Ernie Young Jr. 221 — Eric Autio
221 — Drew Gandy
222 — Justin Sui
223 — John Nolen
223 — Mel Hemminger 224 — Ian Harris
224 — Glen Piot Jr. 224— Rick Steele
224 — Andrew Johnson 225— Jared Nylund
225 — Richie Kuhn
225— Marcus Robinson 226— Terry Fortuna
227 — Ronald Weaver 227— Devron Dobrin
227 — Dennis Volostnykh 227 — Bill Zystra
228— Josh Bauer
228— Todd Bonnivier IV 228— Kevin Marshall 229— Frank Comito 229— Charles Renfro