Knapp, Maragetta put on strong showings at U.P. championships

MARINETTE — Little River Country Club played host to the Senior Men’s Upper Peninsula golf championships on June 10-11.

Larry Bratonia finished day one leading the championship flight at one stroke under par with 34, which also gave him a three-stroke lead over Scott Saari that proved to be the difference on day two.

Both Bratonia and Saari finished one under par on the back nine, with Bratonia shooting a combined 137 to capture first place while Saari settled for second at 140.

Jim Maragetta placed third with 143. Marty Bailey (152), Tony Hofer (155) and Mike Mansfield (158), all from Riverside Country Club in Menominee, placed seventh, ninth and 11th, respectively.

Jeff Simpson topped the first flight at 151, four strokes better than Ed O’Connell at 155.

Little River’s Jim Wagner finished in a three-way tie for third with a combined score of 158, while Riverside’s Wes Stripling tied for seventh at 160.

In the second flight, Paul Bujadg edged Riverside’s Mark Ray for first place by one stroke, 152-153. Brian Gamelin (173) was 12th overall.

Rob Ryan won the third flight by three strokes with a combined 150, while Riverside’s Scott Lauerman (153) was second and Jim Massey (158) was third.

Mark Winters (Little River) shot 165 to finish in fifth place.

Dal Hongisto emerged victorious from the fourth flight after carding a 154. Charlie Miller of Little River was fourth at 162, while Fred Prevost shot 165 to tie Jim Schetter for sixth place.

Riverside’s Paul Boyce was hot on Prevost’s heels at 166, good for a tie with Tom Moul for ninth overall.

John Houle (163) topped Riverside’s Mike Rasner (163) to win the fifth flight. Little River’s Ken Gressel was ninth with a combined 170.

Joe Treiber (Little River) shot 179 to place seventh in the sixth flight, while Jim Gokey settled for 11th at 188.

The seventh flight saw Bryan Knapp of Little River nip Bill Doolin by one stroke to finish first overall at 169. Brian Wiltzius was fourth at 175.

Dave Marquardt (Little River) competed in the eighth flight and placed sixth after shooting an even 200.