ROCHESTER, N.Y. (FLX) — We are now less than a month away from the FLX Tour’s final major of the 2023 season and as sad as that is for many husbands and boyfriends dreading the doldrums of winter without hitting the links, don’t put dirt on us yet.
Tour leadership announced this week the tee times and pairings for the highly anticipated FLX Cup, taking place on October 14 at Shadow Lake Golf Club.
The 28-man field, tying for the largest tournament in FLX history, is the last event on the calendar for 2023, but the first event of the season which will feature no debuts as more than two dozen young men will look to make their mark on history.
While the absolutely stunning FLX Cup trophy is up for grabs, there’s also eyes on the conclusion of the yearlong contest for the coveted Young Man of the Year.
Taking these YMOTY rankings into account, along with mutual social connections, FLX officials say they are confident the tournamnet’s foursomes will bring drama in the highest order, as well as fun meters scratching the stratosphere.
“We definitely wanted to get the bell ringers out front,” FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Shane Driffill said.
FLX Cup Tee Times and Groupings
| Tee Time | Group | Group Nickname |
| 9 a.m. | Dan Driffill Josh Valletta Mike Converse Nathan Wirth | Senior Bell Ringers |
| 9:10 a.m. | Boston Slootmahker Danny Ott Evan Santiago Ryan Pancione | Ski Trip Solutions |
| 9:20 a.m. | Dan Riesenburger Ryan Wirth Steve Nally Todd Horne | Bone To Pick |
| 9:30 a.m. | Alex M. Dooley Brier Koroly Chuck Pace Jesse Cramer | Fun Meter Engineers |
| 9:40 a.m. | Brendan Millward Mike Mortillaro Patrick Moynihan Tom Deiure | GIR Grinders |
| 9:50 a.m. | Brandon Moynihan Joey Mortillaro Matt Driffill Tim Dorsheimer | FLX Leadership |
| 10 a.m. | Chris Miers Danny Driffill Sean Sawyer Shane Driffill | Young Men |
All eyes immediately gaze to the final grouping. That foursome features the top four players currently ranked in Young Man of the Year as well as some favorites to take home the Cup.
The 9:50 a.m. group, featuring your dear FLX officials, will have Matt Driffill trying to defend his title at this event, though Joey Mortillaro and Tim Dorsheimer will both be entering play in top form and will look to add to their own list of FLX major championships. FLX Tour’s Head of Vibes Brandon Moynihan also cannot be overlooked as an open, shorter course of Shadow Lake, along with his higher handicap, will keep him in play because they don’t know his game.
The 9:40 a.m. group is also a hot one, with all four players currently ranked in the top 10 for YMOTY. Deiure especially will be looking to notch his first victory at an FLX Major at a course he considers his “home turf.”
Fans expect a lot of smiles and laughs from the 9:30 a.m. group as all four nice young men enter the field ranked in the top 20 for YMOTY, but more importantly, top fun meters on Tour.
The 9:20 a.m. group, however, is not expected to be as fun. The long-storied rivalry of Gene Fererra and Todd Horne may result in blood being shed on the course. Nally himself is making a push for FLX Tour’s Rookie of the Year while Dan Riesenburger will look to bounce back after an abysmal performance at the 2023 Genesee Invitational.
Is that a bad case of the sniffles going around? Not so fast. That’s just the 9:10 a.m. group, known affectionately as Ski Team Solutions. Ryan Pancione is considered a dark horse to win the whole event but each of these young men will likely be zipped up and buttoned up and looking to make their mark.
Leading things off at 9 a.m. are the senior bell ringers. Not a lot of expectations from any of these men, except for perhaps setting a snail’s pace for the rest of the field. But as FLX fans have seen all season long, handicaps will be in play and every dog has their day.
Speaking of handicaps, FLX officials announced a 95% handicap application of all participants, as is USGA reccomended for singles events, and all handicaps will once again be capped at a maximum of 36.
Following the event, the traditional group photo, trophy presentation, and speeches will take place near the green on hole 18, complete with the famous Big Check. The Champions Luncheon is expected to take place at Shamrock Jack’s in Irondequoit because, let’s face it, that’s where it always happens.
FLX TOUR Golf 