QUECHEE, Vt.- The 2024 Vermont Chapter Stroke Play Championship, hosted by The Quechee Club, was a historic one for the Vermont Chapter as David Jankowski became the first player to three-peat on his way to his fifth Bob Lendzion Trophy.
The tournament got off to a wet start on Monday on the Lakeland Course as the Quechee area saw heavy rain over the weekend and showers off and on during Monday’s round. Wet conditions were not an issue for Golf Garage VT’s Kellen Peery, who carded a round of 2-under 70 to take the opening round lead. Peery came firing out of the gate with birdies on three of his first four holes. That birdie barrage was met with a couple of bogeys to finish out his front nine and he made the turn at even-par 35. On the back nine he kept his great round going with three birdies and one bogey to shoot 2-under par 70, the only under par round of the tournament.
In second place behind Peery after Round 1 was David Jankowski with a round of 1-over 73. In a tie for third place after Round 1 was Susan Fasoldt (Dorset Field Club) and Alex Sheehy (CC of Vermont) with rounds of 3-over 75. Rounding out the top five was Burlington CC’s Kevin Bennison who shot a four-over 76.
In the Senior Championship, defending Champion Mike Zaranek (Brattleboro CC) took a three shot lead over 2022 Senior Champion, Todd Trono. Zaranek shot an opening round 77 compared to Trono’s round of 80.
During the final round, the last pairing of Peery, Jankowski, and Fasoldt pulled away from the field making, with Peery and Jankowski battling throughout the round for the title. Peery’s three shot lead was erased on the front nine after he shot a 2-over 38 and Jankowski carded a 1-under 35. The Golf Garage duo traded the lead back and forth on the first few holes of the back nine until Jankowski took the lead for good on the 17th hole with Peery’s bogey on the par 3.
On the 18th and final hole both players hit great tee shots and sat roughly 100 yards from the green. On the approach shot, Jankowski hit his inside of Peery forcing him to drain a long birdie putt to tie the lead. Peery missed the birdie attempt long allowing Jankowski to two-putt for a two-shot victory and fifth career title. Zaranek held on to win his second consecutive Senior Championship, holding off Todd Trono and recording a six-shot victory.
Fasoldt also continued her solid play on Tuesday recording a round of 76 to secure a solo-third finish. Quechee’s own Dustin Ribolini climbed up the leaderboard on day to finish the tournament in fourth place, while Kevin Bennison, Alex Sheehy, and Mike Zaranek finished in a three-way tie for fifth place.
Thank you to The Quechee Club and PGA Professionals TJ Anthoine, Brian Kelley, Dustin Ribolini, and Curt Goldsberry for hosting. The Chapter would also like to thank our partners for the Stroke Play Championship, Avidia Bank, Cobra Puma, Farrell Distributing/Michelob Ultra, Larkin Hospitality, Pomerleau Real Estate, the PGA Tour and Tournament Solutions!