Past Champions reunite at Democrat Tourney

Posted 8/15/25

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Past Champions reunite at Democrat Tourney

Fourteen past champions competed in the 44th Annual Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Golf Tourney on August 8-10 at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon. The list of champions included several ‘OGs,’ namely Mitchell Etess, who won the first two Democrat titles in 1982 and 1983 with his brother, Mark. Also in the field were two nine-time winners – Ken Cohen and Sean Semenetz. The returning champs are, from the left: Billy Phillips, Gregg Semenetz Sr., Mitchell Etess, Jared Kubenik, Gregg Semenetz Jr., Michael Decker, Michael Scuderi, Ken Cohen, Dr. Peter Rymer, Barry Winter, Sean Sementz, Joe Winski, Kort Wheeler, and Walter Herzog.

Rob Van Harlingen | Democrat

The new Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tourney Hall of Famers are, from the left: Barry Winter, Sean Semenetz, Joe Winski, Kort Wheeler, and Walter Herzog.

Rob Van Harlingen | Democrat

Fitting tribute to those players who passed The Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tourney paid tribute to the players who recently passed and left a lasting imprint on not only the tournament but the many lives they touched. The memorial table included, from the left, long-time player Tom Meyer, Villa Roma’s first Golf Course Superintendent, Steve Luty,‘The Legend,” Marvin Newberg, who played in 42 consecutive Democrat Golf tournaments, and Villa Roma owner and long-time Democrat player Marty Passante. Thanks to Tanya Cohen, the players also wore black ribbons on their golf hats, right, in memory of Marvin Newberg and all departed players.