IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (FLX) — He wasn’t the favorite going into the tournament (he wasn’t even a sleeper), but Brier Koroly put together the round of a lifetime on Saturday, June 10 at Durand Eastman Golf Course and became champion.

With a net score of 63 (98 gross), Koroly became a first-time major champion, fending off perrenial contenders Danny Driffill (65 net, 88 gross), Sean Sawyer (65 net, 74 gross), and “Uncle Chris” Miers (67 net, 75 gross).

Koroly got off to a stunning start with the first group teeing off at 8 a.m. and he held strong throughout to claim the most coveted prize on the FLX Tour. He was a sinking submarine for the final four holes as the young man ran out of gas, but his suspicious handicap was enough to keep him on top of the podium.

Though Koroly was the winner, Sawyer will be remembered as the man of the match for years to come. His round of 74 was not only a personal record for the young man, but also an all-time low round for FLX Tour scores for a singles tournament.

“It’s kind of bullshit,” said FLX Tour co-commissioner Matt Driffill, who teed off with Koroloy in Group 1. “Like, I beat him by six strokes but he still wins? The fuck?”

Handicaps are new to the FLX Tour in its second season, and though there is some visibile frustration for card-holding players at the top of the leaderboard, it’s an added dimension that evens the playing field.

Though the worst of handicaps was not enough to assist Nathan Wirth, making his FLX Tour debut at The Grand Open. Wirth finished with a gross score of 139 and a net store of 102, coming in dead last for both, respectively. Gross indeed!

Though Wirth walked away with the worst of the scores, perhaps no player in the field was more disappointing than Eugene Ferrera. The young man came into the tournament with a lot of promise, but posted an abysmal 108 gross score. A score that looks better on paper than it did on the course, as whispers have surfaced that in his despair, “Mean Gene” may have been shaving some strokes too. No amount of breakfast balls or mulligans could have saved his play on this day.

Strong showings from the brothers Driffill with Matt, Shane, and Danny all finishing in the top 6 for net scores. The same cannot be said for their father, Dan, who finished with a disappointing gross score of 98. If the old timer’s back holds up and he’s able to compete in future events, he may consider playing the senior tees.

“I’m getting too old for this shit,” the eldest Driffill said after the round.

Last year’s Grand Open champion, Tim Dorsheimer, posted a respectable 91 gross, 74 net, but wasn’t up to his usual form on a course that demands creative shot shaping and cerebral planning.

Below you’ll find the final scores for all players. Though the champion was certainly a surprise, the amount of joy that was shared was expected by all in attendance. After the trophy presentation at the course, a Champions’ Luncheon was held at Shamrock Jack’s where tour pros broke bread. Though it was a private banquet, several sources close to the situation say players drove home despite the undetermined amount of alcohol that was consumed.

With the “Grand Daddy of Them All” now in the rear-view mirrow, tour pros set their sights on the next major, The Churchville Classic. The two-man scramble tournament is set to take place on Saturday, July 8.

More notes from the course:

— FLX newcomer Jack Burns led the way with heaters smoked, a fitting name to say the least. He took it one step further by even leaving a dart on a tee for fellow tour member Chuck Pace.

— Speaking of Pace, a highlight of the day, unintentional as it may have been, was his drive off the tee on hole 7 that landed near the green on hole 8. ANOTHER NICE ONE!

— The gallery awaiting the groups as they finished on hole 18 were heard saying “nice time,” “this is nice,” “this is nice that we can do this,” and “it’s hard to get everyone together, you know?”

— Crisis or controversy? An errant score for Koroly on the Par 5 fourth hole could put the legitamacy of his title in question. Had Sawyer known the truth of the tallies heading into 18 he may have played a more conservative hole, but was otherwise forced into thinking he needed to gain more strokes than actually was required. Tour officials continue to investigate this issue.

— Local media was seen at the putting green prior to teeing off. Several FLX ambassadors spoke about the quality of Tour leaderhship, though one player in particular did not paint a rosy portrait of the administration. Mike Converse was heard making complaints that commissioners were turning a blind eye to blatant cheating, including the use of Slic Stick, self-correcting balls, players using a foot wedge, and “light fluff.” Tour officials did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.

— Cheating claims aside, Tour members widely applauded the organization efforts, including but not limited to the production of this year’s guide, which players thought was very, very funny and cool.

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2023 Grand Open Final Scores

Rank	Gross Score	Rank	Net Score
1	Sean Sawyer (74)	1	Brier Koroly (63)
2	Chris Miers (75)	T-2	Sean Sawyer (65)
T-3	Danny Driffill (88)	T-2	Danny Driffill (65)
T-3	Tom Deiure (88)	4	Chris Miers (67)
5	Shane Driffill (90)	5	Shane Driffill (71)
T-6	Brendon Millward (91)	6	Matt Driffill (72)
T-6	Tim Dorsheimer (91)	T-7	Mike Mortillaro (74)
8	Matt Driffill (92)	T-7	Tim Dorsheimer (74)
9	Joe Mortillaro (93)	9	Joe Mortillaro (76)
10	Jesse Cramer (96)	T-10	Dan Riesenburger (77)
11	Chuck Pace (97)	T-10	Tom Deiure (77)
T-12	Brier Koroly (98)	12	Brendon Millward (79)
T-12	Dan Driffill (98)	T-13	Chuck Pace (80)
14	Mike Mortillaro (103)	T-13	Dan Driffill (80)
15	Eugene Ferrera (108)	T-13	Jesse Cramer (80)
16	Dan Riesenburger (109)	16	Brandon Moynihan (83)
17	Brandon Moynihan (113)	17	Kevin Moynihan (84)
18	Jack Burns (120)	T-18	Eugene Ferrera (85)
19	Kevin Moynihan (121)	T-18	Jack Burns (85)
20	Patrick Moynihan (123)	20	Patrick Moynihan (86)
21	Steve Nally (127)	21	Steve Nally (90)
T-22	Mike Converse (130)	T-22	Josh Valletta (93)
T-22	Josh Valletta (130)	T-22	Mike Converse (93)
24	Nathan Wirth (139)	24	Nathan Wirth (102)

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