Rob Mack wins 4th long drive title

Franklin. Mack, a 3-time former long drive champion, wins the 2019 title at Black Bear Golf Club.

| 03 Sep 2019 | 12:55

After his failure to hit his tee shots in the grid in a past Sussex County Long Drive Championship Rob Mack, a 3-time past winner, said “I’ll be back!”

He lived up to his promise on Friday, Aug. 30, as the 2019 championship was contested at the Black Bear Golf Club. He had qualified with a tee shot of 320 yards just 10 yards longer than the tee shot of Ryan Kestel’s 310 yard drive.

In the championship Kestel went first delivering a 307 yard best drive putting pressure on the other contestants. To add to the excitement Tim Branagan duplicated the 307 yard drive of Kestel creating a need for Mack to hit a longer drive to reclaim the Championship. Mack delivered on his promise by hitting the day’s longest drive of 321 yards to capture his 4th Sussex County Long Drive Championship.

A one golf ball shoot-off was held between Ryan Kestel and Tim Branagan to determine 2nd place in the Men’s 18-54 category. Kestel’s shot did not land in the grid and Branagan‘s shot did resulting in Branagan being declared the winner of 2nd place and Kestel 3rd.

Winners of the other categories included Bob Wallerius the winner of the Men’s 55 and over category, Alex Mullen the Champ in the Men’s 17 and under category, Lisa Coe taking the win in the Women’s 18-54 category and Michelle Richard, a 2nd time winner, taking the crown in the Women’s 55 and over category.

- Story and photos courtesy John Whiting