I had the pleasure of participating in the 2nd Annual Canno Invitational this past Thursday. Hosted by Rye Neck golf coach Mark Canno, the event was held at Metropolis Country Club and once again featured some of the area’s top junior and college golfers and of course… me.

The weather was great and the course was in spectacular shape. Play wasn’t as stellar as last year when I played with Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck/Bucknell) and he nearly tied a course record with a 5-under-par 66. Then again, that will be tough for anyone to ever beat.

Once again there were four foursomes, each with a Metropolis member. The competition was a team best ball as well as medal play for the young guns.

This year’s winner was former Rye Neck standout and 2006 Journal News Player of the Year Brian Bartow. The soon-to-be junior at Bucknell fired an even-par 71 in which he didn’t make a bogey until the 13th hole.

Bartow held off Duke University’s Michael Quagliano, who finished with a 73. Quagliano, a former Journal News Athlete of the Season after winning the New York State High School Championship in 2003, was recently in the field at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Of course, that was when some guy named Tiger hogged all the headlines.

Fortunately for me, I got to witness and play with both Bartow and Quagliano. Not surprisingly, along with the host himself, Mark Canno, we finished with a best ball score of 65 to take the title. Mark and I were mainly spectators, but his fantastic birdie on the beautiful, yet difficult, par-4 sixth hole, went a long way in helping the cause.

Quagliano will be competing at the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst later this month. Several other players in this event were still in slight depression mode after just missing out on qualifying the day before.

Bartow barely missed at Trump National in Briarcliff where he fired an incredible 68 in round one, but a tough round two, left him a couple shots off the cut. At that same site, Anthony Rubeo (Pleasantville/Iona) missed by one shot. He’s an alternate along with Chris Scialo (Clarkstown North/Towson).

Also playing the other day was New Rochelle rising senior Dylan Newman, who traveled to Massachussetts to try to qualify for the Amateur. Newman shot 2-under par, but he too missed by one shot.

Despite the close calls, those performances were all tremendous and these guys will all have plenty of more opportunities to qualify into that event. All were able to play well at Metropolis as well, as Rubeo and Newman each shot 76. Former Hastings’ standout Jeremy Troy (UConn) finished third with a 75.

Bartow made the turn at 1-under with eight pars and a birdie on No. 4. He was neck and neck with Quagliano (35 on the front) until the par-3, 15th hole. Bartow stuck a 9-iron to about 2 feet on the 140-yard hole and Quagliano found the left greenside bunker and made bogey for a two-shot swing.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed watching the show and playing with a couple of outstanding golfers I’ve gotten to cover throughout the years. You don’t get to play too often with someone who teed it up at a U.S. Open and who still vividly remembers playing practice rounds with the likes of Retief Goosen and Boo Weekly.

Speaking of someone who knows a thing or two about major championships, longtime legendary head pro at Metropolis, Gene Borek was also in attendance. Borek followed our group around (I have a feeling he really wanted to watch Quagliano and not myself play, but I could be wrong…) for the first few holes before leaving to give a lesson. His presence only added to the day.

I’m grateful to Mark for inviting me again to participate in this fun event. I didn’t shoot the 78 I did last year, but hopefully, I didn’t embarrass myself too much to not warrant an invitation next year. Mark is a great supporter of the local golf scene and he has a vision of continuing to improve the already impressive field. So Tiger, if you’re reading this, save a date sometime next summer.