Local HS Grads Show Their Stuff

HANOVER – Talking about the Tommy Keane Invitational golf tournament in the run-up to the 35th renewal of the event, TKI veteran Jim Jankowski explained how when the fixture started at Hanover Country Club in 1975 it was seen at least in part as an opportunity for Dartmouth golfers to get some good competition in the summer.

Times have changed.

If the semifinals of the championship flight are any indication, the 2010 Tommy Keane is instead a showcase for some of the best graduated high school golfers in the Upper Valley.

In one half of Sunday’s championship semifinal will be former Hartford player Mitch Cable and Mike Hathorn, the Hurricanes coach. The Hartford pair will square off against former Lebanon standout Pat Pelletier and his partner, Joe King. Interestingly, the two teams played together in Friday’s stroke play qualifying with Hathorn and Cable shooting 70 while Pelletier and King were carding a 71.

In the other half of the bracket it will be New Hampshire Amateur champion Nick MacDonald – yet another former Lebanon standout – and his father Shane against Josh Hilderbrand and Josh Wilson.

The winners will advance to the championship match Sunday afternoon. Shane MacDonald will be trying to repeat last year’s TKI win although with a different partner after longtime teammate Andy Hydorn passed on this year’s event.

Sticking with the theme of Upper Valley high school stars, the Hathorn-Cable team made it to the semis with a 1-up win over the father-son team of Peter and Doug Williamson. Peter, a former Hanover High player and Doug were Friday’s medalists with a 62. They won their first match Saturday, 6&5.

Another former Upper Valley high school product bowing out in the quarters was Hartford graduate Jake Obar. He was teamed with Billy Vielleux, who might have been a pretty fair golfer for the Hurricanes himself if he hadn’t been wowing pro baseball scouts as a shortstop on the diamond. Obar and Vielleux fell to Hilderbrand and Wilson 3&2.

Brackets for Sunday

Here are Sunday's brackets. As always, click to make 'em readable. A story is upcoming.

6 P.M. Bracket Update

Most of the afternoon matches have concluded with half of the championship bracket set. (Click the brackets to enlarge.)

This will be the final update from HCC because the wi-fi is getting dicey again. At the conclusion of the day's action I'll zip home and post the final brackets heading into Sunday's action. There will also be a short capsule story.

5 P.M. Update – Third Flight Set

The first Saturday afternoon matches are in but none from the championship flight. Sunday's final match in the third flight is all set. More at 6 p.m. And as always, click the brackets to supersize them.

4 P.M. Update

Nothing new to report except the first match of the consolation bracket of the third flight has finished. Hopefully I'll have more for you at 5 p.m.

Sorry about that 3 p.m. update. It ended up somehow on my Dartmouth football blog.

3 P.M. Update (Reposted)

Argh. The 3 p.m. post went to my other blog on Dartmouth football. Unforced error.

2 P.M. Brackets

Click brackets to enlarge ...

Updated Brackets as of 1 p.m.

Click brackets to enlarge ... Next update shortly after 2 p.m.

Saturday Action on Tap

Updates will be posted hourly – as wifi permits – starting with the end of the morning matches at 1 p.m.

Familiar Names Top Qualifying

HANOVER – The top of the Championship Flight of the Tommy Keane Invitational at Hanover Country Club has a familiar look heading into Saturday’s start of match play.

Claiming medalist honors Friday was the father-son team of Doug and Peter Williamson. The pair registered six of their nine birdies on the back nine on their way to a sparkling 62. The duo won the 2008 TKI.

In a three-way tie for second at 65 were: 2009 champion Shane MacDonald, teaming up this year with son Nick; Jake Obar and Billy Vielleux, who lost to MacDonald’s team in last year’s championship match; and the father-son team of Jim and Andrew Jankowski.

Two shots back are Mike and Scott Peters, the six-time champions who carded a 67.

Match play in all four flights begins Saturday morning with the winners looking to advance in afternoon play. The competition continues through Sunday afternoon.

Closest to the pin winners on the first day were Mike Noonan on No. 4 (2 feet, 3 inches), Matt Keane on No. 5 (2-foot-9), John Scanlon on No. 12 (3-foot4) and Andrew Jankowski on No. 14 (1-foot-9).

The Tommy Keane Invitational, which has been conducted annually since 1975 with the exception of 2001 – when the course was closed for renovation – honors the memory of Tommy Keane, the Hanover pro and Dartmouth golf coach from 1922-66.

Weekend Brackets/Saturday Tee Times

Click the brackets to make them readable.
(I'll catch the spelling errors the next time through.)

Final Qualifying Scores

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Jake Obar/Bill Vielleux 65
Shane MacDonald/Nick MacDonald 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Josh Hilderband/Josh Wilson 69
Jeremiah Daly/Nat Hoopes 70
Matt Keane/Ryan Thorpe 70
Brendan Creagh/Dan Bloom 70
Dean Cashman/Mike Pollard 70
Michael Hathorn/Mitchell Cable 70
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71
Joe King/Pat Pelletier 71
Noel Volpe/Ted Dardani 72
Steve Lyon/Ned Waters 72
Dana Silver/Dan Drensfield 72
Robbie Brown/John Chobanian 73
Mike Keane/Jim Romano 73
Jonathan Vincent/Leigh Mackay 74
Mike Kelley/Leet Ware 74
Paolo Bentivoglio/Antonio Bentivoglio 75
Bob Franco/Peter Robitaille 75
Kevin O’Hara/Ken Blaisdell 75
Thomas Keane/Kevin Keane 75
Charlie Carr/Ryan Donegan 75
Kevin Doyle/Brenny Doyle 76
Bob Donahue/Tim McCarthy 76
Stewart Yaguda/Larry Danyluk 76
Tom Keane/Kevin Johnston 76
Mark McCaddin/Rick Wetmore 77
Tom Day/Mike Fred 77
Jim Keane/Kevin Sullivan 77
Ben Gardner/Jason Gardner 77
Ron Keenhold/Craig Keenhold 78
Jeff Frechette/Terry Hall 78
Shane Wolter/Travis Mulvihill 78
Fred Kelley/Kevin Appleton 79
Doug Klauber/Alan Gnann 79
Russ Spencer/David Farina 80
Bill Downes/John Scanlon 80
Joe Dalimonte/Don Dunworth 80
Roger Demment/Tag Demment 80
Chris Keane/Dillon Sass 81
John Manchester/Larry Rusin 81
Tim Winslow/Andy Mellow 82
Daniel Fitzgerald/Bob Jacobs 82
Dave Cioffi/Ron Cioffi 83
Robert Brownell/Sean Brennan 84
Michael Kenney/Denis McCarthy 84
Mike Noonan/Charlie Mandrachia 85
Robert Wortmann/Jonathan Wortmann 86
Carlos Cutler/Tom Lombardi 88
Julian Harrison/Pall Spera 89
David Barlow/Brandon Bohr 90
Christian Mock/Justin Mock 100

5:15 Scores

The porch is getting a little crazy, scores have come flying in and the wifi connections is getting a little goofy again so this will be the final update until tonight. At that point you'll be able to find all the qualifying scores, brackets for each flight and a small story. Until then ...

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Jake Obar/Bill Vielleux 65
Shane MacDonald/Nick MacDonald 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Josh Hilderband/Josh Wilson 69
Jeremiah Daly/Nat Hoopes 70
Dean Cashman/Mike Pollard 70
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71
Noel Volpe/Ted Dardani 71
Joe King/Pat Pelletier 71
Steve Lyon/Ned Waters 72
Robbie Brown/John Chobanian 73
Mike Keane/Jim Romano 73
Jonathan Vincent/Leigh Mackay 74
Mike Kelley/Leet Ware 74
Paolo Bentivoglio/Antonio Bentivoglio 75
Bob Franco/Peter Robitaille 75
Kevin O’Hara/Ken Blaisdell 75
Thomas Keane/Kevin Keane 75
Charlie Carr/Ryan Donegan 75
Kevin Doyle/Brenny Doyle 76
Bob Donahue/Tim McCarthy 76
Stewart Yaguda/Larry Danyluk 76
Mark McCaddin/Rick Wetmore 77
Jim Keane/Kevin Sullivan 77
Ben Gardner/Jason Gardner 77
Ron Keenhold/Craig Keenhold 78
Jeff Frechette/Terry Hall 78
Shane Wolter/Travis Mulvihill 78
Fred Kelley/Kevin Appleton 79
Doug Klauber/Alan Gnann 79
Russ Spencer/David Farina 80
Bill Downes/John Scanlon 80
Joe Dalimonte/Don Dunworth 80
Chris Keane/Dillon Sass 81
John Manchester/Larry Rusin 81
Tim Winslow/Andy Mellow 82
Daniel Fitzgerald/Bob Jacobs 82
Dave Cioffi/Ron Cioffi 83
Robert Brownell/Sean Brennan 84
Michael Kenney/Denis McCarthy 84
Mike Noonan/Charlie Mandrachia 85
Robert Wortmann/Jonathan Wortmann 86
Carlos Cutler/Tom Lombardi 88
Julian Harrison/Pall Spera 89
Christian Mock/Justin Mock 100

4 p.m. Scores

A few drops of rain as I post from the steps of the DOC house where the public wifi came right up this time!

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Jake Obar/Bill Vielleux 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Josh Hilderband/Josh Wilson 69
Jeremiah Daly/Nat Hoopes 70
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71
Noel Volpe/Ted Dardani 71
Joe King/Pat Pelletier 71
Steve Lyon/Ned Waters 72
Mike Keane/Jim Romano 73
Jonathan Vincent/Leigh Mackay 74
Mike Kelley/Leet Ware 74
Paolo Bentivoglio/Antonio Bentivoglio 75
Bob Franco/Peter Robitaille 75
Kevin Doyle/Brenny Doyle 76
Bob Donahue/Tim McCarthy 76
Stewart Yaguda/Larry Danyluk 76
Mark McCaddin/Rick Wetmore 77
Ron Keenhold/Craig Keenhold 78
Fred Kelley/Kevin Appleton 79
Doug Klauber/Alan Gnann 79
Russ Spencer/David Farina 80
Bill Downes/John Scanlon 80
Joe Dalimonte/Don Dunworth 80
Tim Winslow/Andy Mellow 82
Robert Brownell/Sean Brennan 84
Mike Noonan/Charlie Mandrachia 85
Julian Harrison/Pall Spera 89
Christian Mock/Justin Mock 100

3 p.m. Scores

After two good sessions my little nook wasn't delivering wifi so I had to switch to a cranny. Get it? Nook and cranny?

Anyway, I was wandering around here with the computer searching for a signal like an old man on the beach with a metal detector searching for coins. Eureka, I finally found a workable signal so here are your 3 p.m. scores:

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Josh Hilderband/Josh Wilson 69
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71
Joe King/Pat Pelletier 71
Mike Keane/Jim Romano 73
Jonathan Vincent/Leigh Mackay 74
Mike Kelley/Leet Ware 74
Paolo Bentivoglio/Antonio Bentivoglio 75
Bob Franco/Peter Robitaille 75
Kevin Doyle/Brenny Doyle 76
Bob Donahue/Tim McCarthy 76
Stewart Yaguda/Larry Danyluk 76
Mark McCaddin/Rick Wetmore 77
Ron Keenhold/Craig Keenhold 78
Fred Kelley/Kevin Appleton 79
Russ Spencer/David Farina 80
Tim Winslow/Andy Mellow 82
Robert Brownell/Sean Brennan 84
Mike Noonan/Charlie Mandrachia 85
Julian Harrison/Pall Spera 89
Christian Mock/Justin Mock 100

2 P.M. Scores

Here's the latest:

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71
Joe King/Pat Pelletier 71
Mike Keane/Jim Romano 73
Jonathan Vincent/Leigh Mackay 74
Julian Harrison/Pall Spera 89
Christian Mock/Justin Mock 100

1 p.m Update: Williamsons Shoot 62

These are the only scores posted at this point:

Doug Williamson/Peter Williamson 62
Jim Jankowski/Andrew Jankowski 65
Scott Peters/Mike Peters 67
Darren Curtis/Ted Byrne 71
John Donnelly/Rowley Hazard 71

The father-son team of Doug and Peter Williamson carded birdies on 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17 and 18 to take the early lead in qualifying. The Williamsons were the 2008 TKI champions.

Scores Coming

Hang in there and I'll get you some scores in a bit. I've found a nook where I can periodically (depending on which way the wind is blowing) get public wifi access.

A few rain drops have fallen but so few that I'm actually typing outside and just wiping the occasional drop off my screen.

First Group In

Six-time champions Scott and Mike Peters are under the tent watching the other groups come in after shooting 3-under playing in the first tee time of the day. They finished in 3 hours, 10 minutes, a little off their usual pace ;-)

The sky isn't quite battleship gray but there's no blue in sight. It feels as if the rain will hold off until most of the groups are through, but stay tuned.

More later and be sure to check in tonight for a capsule story and complete scores.

TKI Tees Off

Tommy Keane Invitational (and Dartmouth College) fixture Seaver Peters sends one of the groups off for qualifying as the 2010 tournament tees off.

Internet capability has been cut back on site so updates will be spotty today. I'll bring my bicycle tomorrow to ride into campus and back for periodic updates. (I'd take my car but finding a parking space back at HCC is harder than getting public internet access ;-)

Of Fathers and Sons

HANOVER – The annual Tommy Keane Invitational golf tournament means a lot of things to a lot of people and it’s no different for Hanover High School golf coach John Donnelly.

“It’s the reason I live down here and teach down here,” said Donnelly.

Like a surprising number of the 112 players who will tee off in the annual four-ball event Friday at Hanover Country Club, Donnelly TKI has a pretty good father-son story. It started back when his dad, also named John, teamed up with Art Bemis to take the third TKI in 1977. The pair won it again in 1980.

“We were from Essex Junction, up in the Burlington area,” explained Donnelly, a math teacher at Hanove, “and Bill Purcell, who pretty much started the tournament, was a good friend of my dad and my grandfather. He invited my dad to play, and he played in the first 20 of them or so.

“I came down and caddied for my dad. I caddied for him in a lot of tournaments, but this one will always be special because it’s how I came to know this area. So I’ll always have a warm place in my heart for the Tommy Keane.”

Teammates Jim and Andrew Jankowski have a TKI father-son story of their own.

“This will be our third year playing together, but what is sort of neat is that Andrew has been coming to the tournament since he was something like six months old,” Jim said. “Every summer it was an annual family event. When he was 8-9-10 years old he would caddie, ride around in the cart with us. So he’s been involved in it since he was a wee little lad.”

Asked who was more eagerly counting off the years until Andrew reached 18, the age required to play in the tournament, Jankowski père laughed. “That’s a good question. I think both of us.”

Andrew, a member of the Dartmouth golf team, concurred. “I grew up watching him every year,” he said. “I don't remember a summer without it. When I finally turned 18 he asked me to play with him and I jumped at that chance. It's just such a fun tournament to play. There are so many great players and to play with him makes it even better.”

Shane MacDonald teamed with Andy Hydorn to share the 2002 Tommy Keane title with brothers Mike and Scott Peters. Last year MacDonald and Hydorn – who has flown in from Chicago and Houston to play in the tournament – won the championship outright. But this year promises to be memorable regardless of what happens because of yet another father-son story.

“Andy and I have been partners for maybe 15 years,” MacDonald said, “but the timing didn’t work out with everything he’s got going on this year. I told him if can’t come up here and relax and enjoy and have a good time without worrying about work, then just take a year off. It’s not a big deal.”

MacDonald didn’t have to look far for a replacement. Son Nick, who earlier this month won the New Hampshire Amateur, is home in Lebanon after graduating from the University of Hartford.

“It turned out that Nick wasn’t sure if he was going to play,” Shane said. “He hadn’t signed up with anybody. I asked him, ‘If Andy doesn’t come up do you want to play?’ “

While the Jankowskis have played in numerous father-son tournaments, Shane MacDonald can remember only one other time he teed it up (italics: with) with his son, a former college standout. He did play (italics: against) against him last year, pairing with Hydorn for a 5&4 win over Nick and Pat Pelletier, although Shane isn’t one to take the credit.

“I like to say it doesn’t matter if it’s Andy or Nick, I’m just going to sit in the cart watch and help out a few holes,” he joked. “Last year was such an anomaly. They were making birdies and we were making more birdies. I love watching Nick, play so I’ll get to see more of that.

“To win it with him this year would be unbelievable. I joke that if we ever won it I should let Nick and Andy Hydorn play together next year and see if they can win it. If I can win it with Andy, and I can win it with Nick, we’ll see if Nick and Andy can win it together and complete the circle.”

Although he’s been on board for just five years, head pro Alex Kirk has watched the circle start to close.

“You see a lot of fathers and sons out here,” he said. “The Williamsons (Dartmouth golfer Peter and father Doug won the ‘08 title), the Jankowskis. The MacDonalds. The Keenholds. The Keanes. The Browns.There are a lot of them. It’s pretty special.”

Just how special is it?

Former Dartmouth golfer Jeremiah Daly is flying in from London.

Just to play in the tournament his late father won three times.

DIVOTS There are 56 teams this year, up from 48 of the past few editions. … The two-man teams play an 18-hole qualifying round Friday to set up the flights. … Morning and afternoon matches take place Saturday with the championship matches Sunday afternoon. … Beyond the father-son theme, Kirk said the fact that this is a rare gross event sets it apart. … Scott and Mike Peters have won the event six times. ... Shane MacDonald and Andy Hydorn posted a 4&3 win over Jake Obar and Bill Vielleux (whose father is a TKI veteran) last year.

2010 TKI Tee Times

Friday, July 23
(all off Tee No. 1; subject to change)

8:00
Scott Peters, Mike Peters
Darren Curtis, Ted Byrne

8:10
John Donnelly, Rowley Hazard
Robbie Brown, John Chobanian

8:20
Jim Jankowski, Andrew Jankowski
Doug Williamson, Peter Williamson

8:30
Mike Keane, Jim Romano
Christian Mock, Justin Mock

8:40
Josh Hilderbrand, Josh Wilson
Jonathan Vincent, Leigh Mackay

8:50
Ron Keenhold, Craig Keenhold
Julian Harrison, Pall Spera

9:00
Kevin Doyle, Brenny Doyle
Robert Brownell, Sean Brennan

9:10
Tim Winslow, Andy Mellow
Mike Noonan, Charlie Mandrachia

9:20
Mark McCaddin, Rick Wetmore
Bob Donahue, Tim McCarthy

9:30
Stewart Yaguda, Larry Danyluk
Paolo Bentivoglio, Antonio Bentivoglio

9:40
Russ Spencer, David Farina
Bob Franco, Peter Robitaille

9:50
Fred Kelley, Kevin Appleton
Mike Kelly, Leete Ware

10:00
Noel Volpe, Ted Dardani
Jeremiah Daly, "Hoops"

10:10
Jake Obar, Bill Vielleux
Steve Lyon, Ned Waters

10:20
Bill Downes, John Sharon
Joe Dalimonte, Don Dunworth

10:30
Kevin O'Hara, Ken Blaisdell
Doug Klauber, Alan Gnann

10:40
Robert Wortmann, Jonathan Wortmann
Carlos Cutler, Tom Lombardi

10:50
Chris Keane, Dillon Sass
Thomas Keane, Matt Keane

11:00
Jim Keane, Kevin Sullivan
Michael Kenney, Denis McCarthy

11:10
Tommy Keane, Kevin Johnston
Matt Keane, Ryan Thorpe

11:20
Brendan Craigh, Dan Bloom

11:30
Dean Cashman, Mike Pollard
Ben Gardner, Jason Gardner

11:40
Dan Fitzgerald, Bob Jacobs
Jeff Frechette, Terry Hall

11:50
Dave Cioffi, Ron Cioffi
John Manchester, Larry Rusin

12:00
Shane MacDonald, Nick MacDonald
Charlie Carr, Ryan Donegan

12:10
Tom Day, Mike Fred
Roger Demment, Tag Demment

12:20
Mike Hathorn, Mitch Cable
Joe King, Pat Pelletier

12:30
David Barlow, Brandon Bohr
Dana Silver, Dan Drensfield