IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (FLX) — Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes, and that was exemplified by a storybook finish to the FLX’s biggest tournament of the year Saturday at Durand Eastman Golf Course.

It was an extra special day for the Tour as they were able to come together for the first major of the year and celebrate the new memorial bench that was put in for our dear friend Danny Ott. For those who don’t know Danny we’ll be making a page on this site dedicated to him soon. We miss ya buddy, and we know you were with ous on Saturday.

Before play started, there was donuts, courtesy a soon-to-be-father Jesse Cramer, proten bars, hat sales, yoga, and the national anthem was sung to much fanfare. Announcements resumed shortly thereafter and play, mercifully, finally, begun.

35 young men duked it out in beautiful early June conditions for Rochester, New York. It was the largest field in FLX Tour history, featuring past champions, season veterans, and rookies galore.

And it was one rookie who reigned supreme above the rest: Ryan Netchke took home the trophy of the grandpappiest of ’em all with an unconcious finish to cap off a special round.

Netchke was drafted by FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Matt Driffill for the Commissioner’s Cup last month, but after a lackluster performance at the FLX preseason event at Lakeshore Country Club, M. Driffill moved Netchke to the bench for the tournament.

Team Matt would go on to win the innaugural Cup, but Netchke took the benching to heart, went out and worked on his game, and fueled the fire to victory with a finish that included three birdies in the last four holes.

Even more fitting, the 2024 Grand Open Champion was unable to stick around after play due to a celebration of life he was due to attend. While leaving the fun of the Tour to mourn the loss of a loved one, he waited and waited until the results were finalized. Hopefully in the wake of gried, this young man was able to find joy in golf and community.

“I couldn’t think of a more deserving Grand Open champion,” Matt Driffill said. “We’ve been championing the grow the game effort, much to the chagrin of some Tour pros, but to see a rookie get involved early this year, make an incredible run, and take home the title — that’s what it’s all about.”

“He should have been disqualified for leaving early,” said FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Shane Driffill, who would have finished tied for second place had Netchke got DQ’d. “It should have been me.”

The Tour finished off the day with a celebration after the final group holed out on 18, and then the Champions Luncheon was brought to Shamrock Jack’s where merriment continued into the night hours as FLX Head of Content and Rules Czar Joey Mortillaro was also celebrating his engagement to his new fiance. Congrats Joey!

There’s a lot to be excited about on the FLX Tour, and we’re going to keep that energy going as we look next to the Churchville Classic, our annual two-man scramble tournament, that will take place on July 27, 2024. Keep an eye out for updates on partner selections and tee times, and fill out the following form if you’re interested in playing in this event.

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Below you’ll find the net scores and Young Man of the Year points from this year’s Grand Open. Important to note for YMOTY in 2024: Only the top three results from each pro’s results will be entered for scoring. If a Tour pro plays in all four majors, the cumulative total from their best three efforts will determine their YMOTY ranking. If a tour pro isn’t able to participate in all four majors, and can only make three, they will still be on even footing for YMOTY.

Reach out to leadership with any questions about this, but it’s pretty simple.

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2024 Grand Open Results

Rank	Tour Pro	Net Score	YMOTY
1	R. Netchke	66	35
2	S. Sawyer	70	34
T-3	K. Moynihan Jr.	71	33
T-3	S. Driffill	71	33
T-5	Alex M. Dooley	72	31
T-5	D. Riesenburger	72	31
T-7	D. Driffill	73	29
T-7	D. Graves	73	29
T-7	M. Mortillaro	73	29
T-10	C. Miers	74	26
T-10	G. Ferrera	74	26
T-10	P. Moynihan	74	26
T-10	T. Dieure	74	26
T-14	B. Millward	76	22
T-14	B. Siwiec	76	22
T-16	C. Pace	77	20
T-16	D. Driffill Sr.	77	20
T-16	T. Horne	77	20
T-16	K. Pierce	77	20
T-20	D. Trento	78	16
T-20	R. Pancione	78	16
T-22	B. Annal	79	14
T-22	B. Moynihan	79	14
T-22	L. Englert	79	14
T-25	J. Kowalski	82	11
T-25	T. Dorsheimer	82	11
27	M. Driffill	83	9
28	R. Wirth	84	8
T-29	B. Koroly	89	7
T-29	J. Mortillaro	89	7
31	M. Converse	90	5
32	J. Thorpe	91	4
33	J. Valletta	96	3
34	S. Nally	98	2
35	N. Wirth	111	1