N. Wirth, Christ shock the world & claim victory at 2024 Churchville Classic

CHURCHVILLE, N.Y. (FLX) — It started off as a rather incoherent observation from a lowly Tour pro and later transormed into prophecy.

When Nathan Wirth said “just wait until I win tomorrow” on the FLX Discord Thursday, it sent laughs through the channels. The bell-ringer didn’t even have his dates right, let alone his driver. “I’ve seen your swing, I know your swing,” was the prevailing sentiment from fellow pros who noticed Wirth’s antics.

But he did it. He really did it.

And it wasn’t just Dirt! Paired up with FLX Tour rookie Chad Christ, the dynamic duo — known affectionately as “AISA Baseball” due to their Irondequoit little league baseball roots — shot a lights out net score of -11 (61).

“I rememeber Uncle Chris and I were making the turn, we were even on the net score after 9, playing pretty vanilla, and we checked the scores — we couldn’t believe it when we saw it,” FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Matt Driffill recalled.

Indeed, by the time most groups had made the turn, the to-be-champions were running away from the competition, eclipsing second place by three strokes until a miracle shot on 18 made it one-score game.

“Shocked. Stunned,” said FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Shane Driffill. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

Christ, the second Tour rookie to claim a major championship in as many events this year, is a player that people thought could be dangerous in any event.

Wirth, who’s often closer to the bottom of the tournament leaderboards than the top, is the latest entry into a long story of underdogs pulling out major championships on this Tour.

When Christ was asked after the tournament how they won, he said Dirt kept a lot of balls safe and in play so he was able to attack. He also recalled many medium-long putts that holed out, and a heroic effort by Dirt where he stuck a shot from 175 out to just a few feet of the hole.

“That was good shit,” said Dan Driffill Sr., who was in the foursome with Christ and Wirth.

Although the contest was a foregone conclusion long before it ended, there were plenty of fireworks throughout.

No moment better captured the electricty of the FLX Tour than when Tom Dieure, who was in the final group with the entire gallery watching on hole 18, holed out for eagle from 75 yards out. A beer shower and celebration ensued and the miracle strike locked up his team (Deuire and Sawyer) for a second place finish. FLX Tour leaders Shane Driffill and Joey Mortillaro rounded out the podium in third place.

“All things considered, it was a special event,” Mortillaro said. “None of the hoopla, dog and pony show that we put on sometimes with drones and national athems. Just sunshine, good people, and golf. And donuts.”

“Fue muy especial,” said FLX Tour Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Evan Santiago.

Now that the Churchville Classic is in the rear view, with moments and history and glory attached to it forever, the FLX Tour now turns its attention to the 2024 Genesee Invitational.

The registration form for the next tournament is available online now. That will take place on Sunday, August 25 at 9 a.m. at the world-famous Genesee Valley Golf Course. The format is two-man best ball and the field will be split into two groups based on handicaps in which teams will be drawn from ahead of the event.

2024 Churchville Classic results

RankTeamNet ScoreYMOTY points
1Nathan Wirth & Chad Christ6132
2Sean Sawyer & Tom Deuire6230
3Shane Driffill & Joey Mortillaro6528
4Dom Trento & Ryan Nethcke6626
T-5Dan Graves & Jess Cramer6724
T-5
Kyle Pierce & Nick Hawes
6724
7Dan Riesenburger & Brendan Milward7020
T-8Matt Driffill & Chris Miers7118
T-8Tim Dorsheimer & Josh Valletta7118
T-10Ryan Pancione & Brier Koroly7214
T-10Chuck Pace & Evan Santiago7214
T-10
Alex Dooley Mikalajo & Mike Mortillaro
7214
13Ryan Wirth & Danny Driffill738
14Brandon Moynihan & Boston Siwiec746
15Josh Kowalski & Dan Driffill Sr.774
16Steve Nally & Jon Thorpe792

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