This is the day the Sullivan County Democrat kicks off its annual two-man team championship at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon.  Some of the best amateur golfers around the region will qualify today to see which flight they participate in. The top 16 teams from the 64-team field will go into the championship flight and play for the title. 2025 Champions Sean Semenetz and Joe Winski will be back to defend their title. 

This year Kort Wheeler and Walter Herzog have been playing some outstanding golf in the Men’s league at the Villa Roma. I expect them to be one of the top teams to win this week. Two-time champs Mike Decker and Mike Scuderi will also be back to avenge a first-round defeat at the hands of Wheeler and Herzog last year. 

A couple of new teams will be competing this year. Joe Meyer has a new partner in Scott Abkarian. They played 18 for the first time together at the Villa Roma, shooting a 5 under par 67. That’s the kind of round that wins matches. Expect them to compete with the other top teams. 

Koltin Pickell picked up a college player out of Hofstra University by the name of Gavin Clarke as his partner.  If the new team can adjust to the Villa Roma Greens Mystique, they will be a force. 

 ODDS ON WINNING 

THE DEMOCRAT

Semenetz-Winski 3-1 

Wheeler -Herzog 5-1

Decker-Scuderi 5-1

Joe Meyer-Abkarian 7-1

 John Meyer– Jordan Meyer 8-1

Pickell-Clarke 9-1

                                                            Kubenik-Semenetz Jr 9-1

Cohen-Etess 10-1

Dykstra-Mathis 12-1

Predictions: Final Four pick is Semenetz/Winski, Wheeler/Herzog, Meyer/Abkarian and Decker/Scuderi. Wheeler and Herzog dethrone the defending champs and take the title.