CALLICOON — Before a shot even lands on the green at the Villa Roma Golf Course, the 43rd Annual Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Golf Tourney has set some records.

The first record that was broken came early – June 4 to be exact – when the Democrat received the first 64 applications for its tournament.

Although the Democrat Golf Tourney has been “sold out” every year for the past 25 years, filling up the field in less than two weeks was a new record.

“It was amazing,” Tournament Sponsor and Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III said. “We published the ad for the tourney just four times, beginning May 24 and we also mailed out our applications.

“They came back in less than two weeks and we were filled,” he said. “I guess that is a testament to how much our local amateur golfers enjoy playing in the tourney.”

The tournament will be played on July 26-28 at the Villa Roma with 128 players – 64 two-man teams – in the field.

‘Iron Horse’ streaks ends

Another record that will be broken this year is veteran golfer Marvin Newberg’s record of having never missed a Democrat Golf Tourney since it started in 1982.

Newberg was long noted as one of the top amateur golfers in the Mid-Hudson Region, having won the prestigious Times-Herald Record Amateur Tourney as well as many local club championships and tournaments.

And his streak at the Democrat was legendary.

He played for many years with his friend, Sam Hillman, and the duo competed regularly in the Championship Flight.

The last several years Newberg has teamed up with his son, Ben, who is head coach of the women’s basketball team at SUNY Sullivan.

Newberg and fellow attorney Chris DuBois both had continuous streaks of more than 35 years when DuBois said he could no longer make the tournament about five years ago.

That left Newberg alone as the last player who never missed  a Democrat Golf Tourney since 1982.

“He is certainly disappointed, but a prior family commitment that he cannot miss came up this year,” Stabbert said. 

“Marvin loves traditions, and the Democrat Golf Tourney was certainly one that he treasured,” Stabbert said. “He is one of only a handful of golfers who go back to the Fred Stabbert Jr. - Paul Zintel days at the Grossinger’s Big G Course, where the Democrat started.

“We will miss him,” Stabbert said.

But like Marvin said, ‘My son Ben will be playing, so there will still be a Newberg in the field.” 

No Ken Cohen-Mitchell Etess

Two more legends of the tourney, Ken Cohen and Mitchell Etess, will not be playing this year.

The duo were the original authors of “the record book” at the Democrat and both are Democrat Golf Tourney Hall of Famers.

Cohen has won the Democrat nine times, a record he shares with Sean Semenetz.

Etess has three championships, including winning the first two Democrats ever played, with his brother, Mark.

But Cohen stands alone by making the finals a record 15 times – which is more than 33 percent of all the tournaments ever played.

“Ken Cohen is the ultimate competitor on the golf course and a player I grew up with,” Stabbert said. “We worked as interns together at the Democrat in the early ‘80s and he loved to cover golf and played in the tourney every year.”

Cohen quickly made a name for himself at the Democrat, winning in only his third year – 1984 – with Jimmy Grossinger.

His next championship was in 1987 with Jack Jordan and then Cohen won four times with Barry Winter.

He also won in 1994 with Mitchell Etess, who he teamed up with 25 years later to see if they could win another Democrat title.

The duo made it to the finals in 2021, but ran into the Sean Semenetz-Joe Winski duo in the finals.

“Ken Cohen is certainly the Democrat’s GOAT,” Stabbert said. “But he will be the first to tell you that Sean Semenetz is the best player in the field.

“Ken is a true sportsman on the course and very humble of all of his accomplishments,” he said. “I always look forward to seeing him and Mitchell in the tourney, and hope they can return next year.”

Big Guns Are Back

Speaking of Sean Semenetz and Joe Winski – they are back.

The duo is the winningiest team in Democrat Golf Tourney history, with 8 titles.

They had won three Democrats in a row – 2020, 2021, 2022 – until last year, when they were upended in the semifinals.

“If I know Sean and Joe, that will just add some fire to their game this year,” Stabbert said. “I can’t wait to see who makes the championship flight.”

Both teams who made the championship match will be back.

Defending champs Michael Decker and Michael Scuderi will now have a target on their back after having won in 2023.

“They have made the finals the past two years and really have great chemistry on the course,” Stabbert said. “And Mike Cardo and Blake Kilcoin can’t wait to try and accomplish what they just missed last year – winning the Democrat.”

Cardo-Kilcoin were low qualifiers last year with a 68, so they can go low if they have to.

But it won’t be easy.

There are past champions everywhere.

Liberty’s Kort Wheeler and Walter Herzog have been in the championship match three of the last nine years and will certainly be looking for another championship.

Hometown champion Jared Kubenik gets a lot of rounds in at the Villa Roma Country Club and should be in top form as he joins high school buddy Gregg Semenetz Jr. to try and win another title.

And there is a third Semenetz in the field – Gregg Sr. – who will team up with his long-time partner Bill Phillips to see if they can win a third title.

This duo can always put pressure on their opponents with their extreme course knowledge and consistency.

And the list goes on, with many younger players joining the field, trying to write their names into Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tournament history.

Let’s see how many more records are broken this year.