Navarra and Froloff win Doppy Memorial Golf Tournament
sponsored by the Tobay Beach lifeguards, was held recently at the Cherry Creek Woods Course in Riverhead.

Shown in the photo, left to right, are award winners Jim Nordland, Gary Mims, Joe Navarra, Mike Froloff, Tony Nordland, Ernie Olson, Bob Dente and Tom Nordland.

The tournament was a huge success as the weather was pleasant and 82 golfers participated in the 18-hole best ball format for the 15th consecutive year. The event is dedicated to the memory of the late George "Doppy" Doherty, a former lifeguard captain who coached golf at Massapequa High School and wrestling at Berner High School. Doppy, as he was affectionately known, was a very popular and dynamic teacher and coach in the Massapequa School District for 18 years until his untimely death in 1974. Many of the participants in the annual event include relatives, close friends, athletes and lifeguards. To date, the tournament has raised $28,000 in scholarship funds and is annually awarded to a Massapequa High School senior wrestler. This year's Doppy Open was dedicated to Rudy Fiorvanti, a standout three-sport athlete (football, wrestling and lacrosse) at the high school, as well as a Tobay Beach lifeguard for the past 37 years. Fiorvanti was a family man and was a dear friend to everyone. He passed away in April from leukemia at the age of 55.

Winning their first Doppy Open title was Joe Navarra and Mike Froloff, who finished with a 65 and tied the tournament record for low gross honors. They had an impressive round that featured six birdies and shot a 32-33 and defeated four other formidable teams.

The low net award went to former Doppy Open champions Ivan Cargonja and partner Bob Dente who carded a 68 and narrowly defeated defending champions John Keegan and Donald Bianco, along with the tandem of Mike Sarro and Rich Williamson, both pairs finished with scores of 69.

Other top pairs included 2002 champions, Pat and Tim Linehan (70), two-time titlist Gary Jaeger and partner Rick Brzozinski (71), Artie Pulsinelli and 15-year old Jeff Layton (72), along with 2003 winners Gary Mims and Gerard Ciofalo (73), and 1997 champions Johnny and Tommy Doherty and George Webber and Frank Boyar, as both squads tallied a 75.

Specialty honors went to Mark Wagner who won the best shot on the first hole, and the longest drive winners were Andy Boyar who unleashed a 294 yard drive on the ninth hole, John Keegan who crushed a 311 yard blast on the 15th hole and Mike Dempsey Jr. who had a 296 yard drive on the 18th hole. Winning the Rudy Fiorvanti Award (longest drive) was former Massapequa High School coach Ernie Olsen who had a drive of 302 yards on the fourth hole. Closest to the pin honors went to Johnny Doherty, when his ball landed within three feet on the sixth hole, Matt Link on the eighth hole, Mike Dempsey who landed one foot from the 13th hole and Frank Boyar on the 17th hole. The sportsmanship award went to six-time Doppy Open champion Dan Lannak.

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