Flying A Golf Tournament held Friday

FALLS – On Friday, the Flying A Golf Tournament, now in it’s 62nd year, was held under hot and humid conditions, had a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The field of 80-golfers not only battled each other, but Mother Nature’s rainstorm at Emanon Country Club.

The tournament began in 1962 when Jerry Zezza, Sr. and others men created a golf tournament on the relatively new Emanon Golf Course that was designed in the 1950s with only nine holes.

The tournament did not have a name and at that time, Zezza, Sr. owned and operated the Flying A Service Station at the corner of Exeter and Tunkhannock Avenues, West Pittston.

All correspondence for the event was sent out of the service station and entrants would send their money back to the station so it was decided the event would be named after the service station and the Flying A tournament was born.

The original tournament committee in 1962 consisted of Jerry Zezza, Sr., George Menn, Lou Cella, Vince Cella, Joe Occiato, Mike Amico, Dave Marconi, Frank Serino, and Bernie Klocko.

According to Jerry L. Zezza, son of the late Jerry Zezza, Jr., the tournament is a homecoming of sorts for many of the golfers.

“Instead of it being a golf tournament, it turns out to be reunion for many that return including family that live away,” Zezza said. “For some that live away, it might be the only time they come back to the area. It’s like clambake without the clams.”

Zezza said not everyone that plays at the event; take scores serious as much as they enjoy being with family and friends.

Five generations of Zezzas have played in the Flying A Tournament, since its inception.

The next generations of organizers of the tournament will do everything in their power to keep the tradition of the Flying A Tournament to continue for years to come.