LOWELL — Topping last year’s thrilling tournament may be a tall order. But with the amount of talent ready to tee it up at the Lowell City Golf Tournament, who knows? The four 12-member teams are set after recent qualifying at Vesper Country Club, Mt. Pleasant Golf Club, Long Meadow Golf Club and Nabnasset Lake Country Club.
The 99th Cities (no tournament was held 1943-45 due to World War II, so last June marked the 100th anniversary) will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at Vesper, Friday, June 21 at Mt. Pleasant, and Saturday, June 22 at Long Meadow. Nabnasset Lake’s Brandon Gillis is back to defend his title.
Gillis put on a show for the ages last year, as his 208 three-round total (7-under) tied the event record set in 2003 by Long Meadow’s Doug Parigian. Gillis birdied three of the last four holes to capture the tournament. Gillis needed every one of those closing birdies, as Mt.
Pleasant’s Chris Gentile, who played in the group in front of Gillis, finished at 6-under. Gillis also captured the 2021 title. Gentile’s total would have won every nearly every one of the previous 99 Cities, but it wasn’t quite good enough.
A motivated Gentile is back in this year’s field. Lurking right behind were Vesper’s duo of Andrew Conway and John DeVito, who finished at 5-under and 3-under, respectively. Conway and DeVito are again members of Vesper’s team.
The Smith sisters are also back and looking to continue to amaze, showing they are more than capable of playing fro.
