IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (FLX) — It was a chapter of FLX Tour history that won’t be soon forgotten.

44 young men entered the 2025 Grand Open Saturday at Durand Eastman Golf Course, but far fewer would finish. 43 showed up, and of that number, only 28 completed the 18 holes after a wild day of wind, rain, and cold.

“It’s unfortunate with the weather,” FLX Tour-Co Commissioner Shane Driffill said. “We were lucky last year with nice weather at each of our events, but Mother Nature had other plans for us in store this weekend.”

The rain started early and didn’t let up for hours, but once it finally did, the cold set in. Tour pros were dropping like flies at the turn, as groups reassembled and stragglers ordered glizzies in a half-hearted attempt at warming up.

“My entire group left,” said Shane Partiss, who was making his FLX Tour debut in the tournament. “I ended up hopping in with the 8 a.m group and we played as a five-some for the back nine.”

“It was messy,” FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Matt Driffill said. “It certainly adds a bit of lore to the storylines. We didn’t know who was going to finish the tournament at all, let alone on the podium. A real callback to the cavemen era of our Tour.”

The oldest pro in the field, Dan Driffill Sr. — who’s been playing this golf course since the Ford administration — held a one stroke lead going into hole 18, but a 9 on one of the courses toughest holes set him back to a tie for third place.

“Got away from me,” Driffill Sr. was heard saying atop a Shamrock Jack’s barstool at the traditional Champions Luncheon following the tournament.

Initially believed to be a tie at the top following senior’s fall, Danny Driffill and Sean Sawyer competed in a putt-off tie breaker that Sawyer won, but a correction to the scorecard was later issued, making Danny Driffill the 2025 Grand Open champion and the putt-off moot. But we still loved the drama.

Rules Czar Joey Mortillaro noted that due to the post-play scorecard correction, a new scoring system will be implemented moving forward at major tournaments, involving a physical copy for each group to coincide with the 18 Birdies application; more details to follow.

With his third major victory, and a People’s Champion award in 2023, the oldest Driffill brother can now lay an honest claim to Tour’s GOAT status.

“It was messy,” Matt Driffill reiterated. “We’re on to Churchville.”

Messy is an understatement. Confusion and chaos took over as groups began making the turn in the torrential downpour. The first group split up for hot dogs, but they were never able to recalibrate and all four of the 7:30 a.m. group withdrew before playing hole 10.

Meanwhile, the champions group right behind them stuck around at the snack stand, waiting for the rain to pass, and once it did, there was quite a backup on the 10th tee where groups were resettling in after so many people withdrew.

“No one was playing well, it’s impossible to do so in that kind of weather,” Shane Driffill said. “I think by the time the back 9 started, it was just kind of an effort to grind and finish and get it done, knowing that whoever could handle a little damage control would be OK.”

It took a lot of damage control. Clubs were thrown, balls were skipped over the top of carts, and demands to put the flag back in the hole after maxing out were all in play on the back 9, but the 28 youngsters who stuck it out gathered on 18 in anticipation of who would be crowned.

Despite the poor weather, dusty finish, and wait times on tee boxes, those who stuck it out were treated to an experience with history in real time. Other highlights of the event include a gambling player pool presented by the Department of Negotiations and Emerging Initiatives; an entertainment feature enjoyed by Pros and fans alike.

Good shots and fun gambling aside, it was tough sledding overall.

“In our four-year history, I can confidently say this is not one of my favorite tournaments,” Matt Driffill said. “We’re on to Churchville.”

After a busy few weeks with a Lakeshore Tune Up, Commissioner’s Cup, and Grand Open, sources close to FLX HQ say leadership is eager to embrace a bit of a down period, since the next tournament isn’t until late July.

“It’ll be good to have a little break,” Shane Driffill said. “Next one is a summer scramble at Churchville in a few weeks, and everyone loves a summer scramble.”

“I didn’t finish play, no, but the merch was a hit,” FLX Tour Rules Czar and Head of Content Joey Mortillaro said. “Wait until you see the ball markers.”

2025 Grand Open results

Rank	Tour Pro	Net Score	YMOTY Points
1	Danny Driffill	76	44
2	Sean Sawyer	77	43
T3	Dan Driffill Sr.	78	42
T3	Matt Driffill	78	42
T3	Nick Hawes	78	42
T6	Shane Partiss	79	39
T6	Zach Stedman	79	39
8	Ryan Netchke	80	37
T9	Alex ‘Dooley’ Mikalajo	81	36
T9	Dom Trento	81	36
11	Mykla Prokopenko	82	34
T12	Boston Siwiec	83	33
T12	Chad Christ	83	33
T12	Dan Graves	83	33
T12	Ryan Wirth	83	33
16	Mike Mortillaro	84	29
17	Shane Driffill	85	28
T18	Chuck Pace	86	27
T18	Evan Santiago	86	27
T18	Tim Dorsheimer	86	27
21	Brandon Burris	88	24
22	Kyle Pierce	89	23
T23	Eric Spanbauer	93	22
T23	Nathan Wirth	93	22
T23	Scott Stedman	93	22
26	Brier Koroly	85	19
27	Jon Thorpe	97	18
28	Vaughn Rowell	100	17
T29	Brandon Moynihan	WD	8
T29	Brendan Milward	WD	8
T29	Chris Miers	WD	8
T29	Dan Riesenberger	WD	8
T29	Gene Ferrera	WD	8
T29	Jesse Cramer	WD	8
T29	Jimmy Franz	WD	8
T29	Joey Mortillaro	WD	8
T29	Josh Valletta	WD	8
T29	Kenny Rogers	WD	8
T29	Lou Englert	WD	8
T29	Michael Converse	WD	8
T29	Patrick Moyhnihan	WD	8
T29	Steve Nally	WD	8
T29	Tom Deiure	WD	8
T29	Todd Horne	WD	8

*WD score calculated as 8 YMOTY points by FLX Head of Numbers Tim Dorsheimer based on the legacy no lost points approach.

2025 Young Man of the Year standings

Rank	Tour Pro	YMOTY Points
1	Danny Driffill	44
2	Sean Sawyer	43
T3	Dan Driffill Sr.	42
T3	Matt Driffill	42
T3	Nick Hawes	42
T6	Shane Partiss	39
T6	Zach Stedman	39
8	Ryan Netchke	37
T9	Alex ‘Dooley’ Mikalajo	36
T9	Dom Trento	36
11	Mykla Prokopenko	34
T12	Boston Siwiec	33
T12	Chad Christ	33
T12	Dan Graves	33
T12	Ryan Wirth	33
16	Mike Mortillaro	29
17	Shane Driffill	28
T18	Chuck Pace	27
T18	Evan Santiago	27
T18	Tim Dorsheimer	27
21	Brandon Burris	24
22	Kyle Pierce	23
T23	Eric Spanbauer	22
T23	Nathan Wirth	22
T23	Scott Stedman	22
26	Brier Koroly	19
27	Jon Thorpe	18
28	Vaughn Rowell	17
T29	Brandon Moynihan	8
T29	Brendan Milward	8
T29	Chris Miers	8
T29	Dan Riesenberger	8
T29	Gene Ferrera	8
T29	Jesse Cramer	8
T29	Jimmy Franz	8
T29	Joey Mortillaro	8
T29	Josh Valletta	8
T29	Kenny Rogers	8
T29	Lou Englert	8
T29	Michael Converse	8
T29	Patrick Moyhnihan	8
T29	Steve Nally	8
T29	Tom Deiure	8
T29	Todd Horne	8