Another dramatic finish at Pine Hills

It looked as if the bad luck Ryan Cuitino suffered at last year’s Pine Hills Golf Invitational was going to continue, but then he made sure it didn’t, even if he had to work extra to do it.

Cuitrino was the leader after the first day of the 2019 invite, but saw that lead slip away over the final 18 holes of the 36-hole event, dropping to fourth place under the late surge of the eventual champion Michael Fastert — that and a playoff as well.

So when Cuitrino advanced into the final Sunday with the lead again this year — this time by one shot over Lloyd Roth and two shots over Josh Gass, Huston Gass, Tres Steffey and John Wright — he focused and managed to hold on to that one stroke lead on Roth through Sunday’s first 15 holes.

But Roth, who made a terrific shot out of the bunker to save par on No. 7, wouldn’t go away and eventually took a one-shot lead of his own over the next two holes. However, when his approach shot over the creek on No. 18 hit a tree and forced an unplayable lie and a drop, Cuitrino got the break and the opening he needed.

Though Roth rebounded to par the hole, Cuitrino’s birdie knotted their scores at 137 and forced a playoff. On the first extra hole, he dropped an approach to within three feet of the No. 1 flag and birdied, giving him his first Pine Hills Invitational championship.

“I really had a good feeling about to day when the day started,” said a beaming Cuitrino. “I actually got a putting tip from one of Lloyd’s buddies and things worked out well for me. It feels good, for sure.”

The dramatic finish left Roth a somewhat disappointing second, while Ottawa’s Jeremy Debernardi rallied in the last nine holes to fall one stroke short of making it a three-way playoff, instead taking third place with a 138 score.

For the playoff, Cuitino went with a four iron, his usual club for that hole, opting not to play it conservatively. Though his shot went to the right, he had a clear shot at the green and dropped his approach in the perfect spot for an automatic birdie. Roth, meanwhile, said he was average off the tee, but flew his approach over the green to all but end his chances.

“On the playoff hole, I was lucky to keep it in the fairway off the tee and then got lucky hitting it that close, then the birdie just went in. My playing competitor (Roth) played unbelievably all day and just had an unfortunate break (on No. 18). Other than that, he made it a grind, that’s for sure … In those two holes, Lloyd played really well and I did not. He just had some bad luck.”

Added Roth, “On 18, I was a little right and I was aggressive, assuming he was going to make birdie, and I hit the tree. I’m glad he made a birdie to win the playoff hole. He made the shots that sealed the deal.”

Like the leader battling fast greens and fairways, Debernardi still carded an outstanding 32 on the back nine both days to get his third place. A missed three-foot putt for birdie cost him a shot at the playoff.

“I started a little slow like I did yesterday, 36 on front and 32 on the back. Good backs and tough starts,” said Debernardi, the groundskeeper at Pine Hills. “Once I found a comfort level on both days and got dialed in, I was able to get birdies on 9 and 11 and made some good saves coming in.”

The winner of the A Flight championship was nearly as dramatic, as John Cinotto defeated his son, Brandon Cinotto, in a playoff for that crown. Each has finished regulation with scores of 153.

The Senior Division winner was Wright with a score of 140, while Dan Caparusso claimed the Super Seniors class with a 145.