Cucinotti's driver helps him take Tee It Forward Fall Net Championship

   Steve Cucinotti of Talamore Country Club showed he can still unleash the driver that made him a long-drive champion 25 years ago to capture the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Tee It Forward Fall Net Championship Thursday at Burlington Country Club in Westampton, N.J.

   Players are encouraged to play the tees that most fit their handicap, but that was not an issue for Cucinotti, the Pennsylvania Long Drive champion in 1990 and again in 1991. Cucinotti played the back tees on the 6,436-yard, par-70 Burlington layout and fired a 3-over 73.

   That translated into 43 points in the Stableford scoring system, giving the 58-year-old Cucinotti a four-point edge on the rest of the field. Cucinotti’s playing partner, 21-year-old Zach Johnson of Commonwealth National Golf Club, finished second with 39 points.

   Cucinotti’s round featured mostly pars, although he knocked a three-quarter wedge to 15 feet at the last and holed the putt for a finishing birdie.

   Willilam Erskine of the Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association finished alone in third, a point behind Johnson with 38. Francis Tan of Medford Lakes Country Club and W. Frank Skilton and Ned Moore, both of Manufacturers Golf & Country Club, shared fourth place, each player piling up 37 points.

   Hank Collins of Philadelphia Publinks was seventh at 35 and Andres Forese of Sea Oaks Golf Club and David Wallace of host Burlington were tied for eighth at 33.

   Rounding out the top 10 were four players – James Miller of Makefield Highlands Golf Club, Brent Alwood of Five Ponds Golf Club, Michael Kyle of Talamore and Joe Kelly of Deerwood Country Club – tied for 10^th with 32 points each.

   A women’s flight was included in the Fall Net Championship for the first time and Wynn Harris of Old York Road Country Club took top honors with 31 points.

   Harris’ playing partners, Josie Anthony of White Manor Country Club and Muffy McCabe of Philadelphia Country Club, shared second place, a shot behind Harris with 30 points each. Nancy Tucker of The Bucks Club rounded out the women’s contingent with 23 points.