"The 8"
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Founders Michael Marsico and Griffin Bartley
Michael Marsico and Griffin Bartley, two life long friends and lovers of golf, set out to make an event where friends who love the game could compete with and against each other at some of the best golf courses in the Western Pennsylvania area. Over the last eight years and counting, in the middle of August, 8-36 friends have gathered together to compete in hopes of taking home the coveted title. The year 2019 marked a big year for "The 8," as the field expanded from eight players to 16 for the first time. Marsico and Bartley then went on to host the first ever "8 Cup" in the year 2020. The 16 players were drafted into two teams and they played 36 holes of Ryder Cup Format. One team was captained by Marsico and Bartley, and the other team captains were 2019 champions Mike Gerger and Mark Calandra. In 2021, the field expanded to 20 players for the first time in the history of the event. Five captains were selected and teams were drafted into foursomes. The field continued to expand in 2022. This marked the first year for the round-robin match play format. 24 players teed it up at The Ridge in 2022. 2023 remained at 24 players and 2024 shattered that total, with 36 in the field at Lawrence Park Golf Club.
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A Flight
Coleman/Skoff 29
Barto/Riggs 25.5
Bartley/Holmes 24.5
Bennink/Mertz 24
Reynolds/Costello 24
Davis/Gerger 23
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B Flight
Simon/Maloney 31.5
Benvenuti/J. Rearic 28 *advanced via playoff
Kunst/Spang 27
Klodowski/Watt 23
Pawlikowski/Calandra 22.5
Clark/Colbert 18
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C Flight
Bennett/Alloway 29
Majewski/Smith 28 *lost in playoff
Mele/Capella 26
M.Rearic/Zapalla 24.5
Bensur/Emmerling 24
Toy/Hughes 18.5
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2024
Lawrence Park Golf Club
2024 marked yet another growth year for "The 8" as the field expanded from 24 to 36, including an addition of a full third flight. The format remained the same as the previous two years and the three flights were broken up based on total team handicap. Matt Barto and Jason Riggs returned to the field hungry to defend their 2023 title. 8 rookie and former Gannon University Men's Golf Coach Dustin Coleman was drafted by his former player Clayton Skoff, who was back in the 8 field for the second time.
Coleman and Skoff rolled through the A Flight playing consistent golf all weekend. The duo did not surrender a match all weekend and were able to come away on top with not much pressure from any other team in their flight. 8 rookie Dan Maloney traded up the draft board to snag 2nd year 8 member Drew Simon and the duo put together a performance to remember. Maloney and Simon did not surrender a match all weekend and added a big 7.5-2.5 win on Saturday over Jordan Klodowski and Nathan Watt to keep their momentum rolling. The teams of Jace Rearic/Nick Benvenuti and Noah Kunst/Noah Spang were in a push all weekend for the coveted wildcard spot. Rearic and Benvenuti ended up snagging this spot as they duked it out with 8 veterans Mark Majewski and Tom Smith from the C flight in a two hole playoff. Ethan Bennett and Keegan Alloway made their mark in the C flight and fended off a late push from Smith and Majewski. Tom and Mark toppled Keegan and Ethan 7.5-2.5 in the final match of regulation to put as much pressure on "Goose" and "E" as they could. However, when all the dust settled it was only good enough to get them a spot in the wildcard playoff.
With the final playoff set, the teams left chasing the title were Coleman/Skoff, Simon/Maloney, Bennett/Alloway and J. Rearic/Benvenuti. Coleman and J. Rearic slaughtered tee shots on the par 5 15th, leaving their partners with just mid irons in their hands to go after the green in under regulation. Two quality golf shots from Benvenuti and Skoff left mid-long range eagle putts for both teams. After a two putt from Coleman and Skoff and an unfortunate three putt from Rearic and Benvenuti, Dustin Coleman and Clayton Skoff claimed the title at the 2024 8! "We ham and egged it all weekend. When I was out of the hole Clayton picked me up and vice versa," said Coleman when asked about what led to their teams success. The Gannon duo will be back in action in 2025 to defend their title!
2023
Peek'n Peek
2023 marked the second year for the new round robin match play format. The field size remained the same as the previous year, for the first time in four years. Matt Barto came in to this year looking to defend his 2022 title, however with a new partner by his side. 8 rookie Jason Riggs was thrown into the spotlight and battled with Barto in one of the most entertaining playoffs in 8 history. Barto and Riggs steamrolled their way through the "Treasure Lake Flight," including an historic 9-1 slaughtering, during the third match, of Jordan Klodowki and Nathan Watt. "Is that any bad," said Watt, before, during and after the match. Barto and Riggs ended the five matches with a point total of 32. (Tied for the highest of all time) Steady play from 8 veterans Cole Davis and Mike Gerger propelled them to the top of "The Ridge Flight," with a five match total score of 32. (Tied for the highest of all time) However, the drama was not over just yet. The shootout, which took one chip off and 7 holes, provided the audience with both great and not so great shots. However, when all was said and done, Barto was back on top defending his 2022 title. This time with Riggs by his side. Barto and Riggs will be paired together again in 2024 and will be gunning to defend their title!
Treasure Lake Flight
Barto/Riggs 32
Mele/Holmes 29
Pawlikowski/Skoff 25.5
Clark/Bensur 22.5
Mertz/Cappella 21
Watt/Klodowski 20
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The Ridge Flight
Gerger/Davis 32
Bennett/Reynolds 27
Majewski/Alloway 24
Spang/Benvenuti 23.5
Hughes/Smith 23
Zappala/Simon 20
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2022
The Ridge
Another expansion year for The 8, 2022 saw the field grow to 24 players competing. This year also marked the first year without the commissioner Michael Marsico playing in the field. "Commish" has since taken a back seat to run the event on a yearly basis. The Ridge, in Waterford, PA (15 miles south of Erie) was a monumental host and provided a turning point for the events format. In 2022, the teams went back to duos and the 24 individuals were split into two flights of 12. Each duo then played a round robin format against the other five partners in their respective flight. Each match was nine holes with nine points available per match (one per hole) and an additional extra point given to the winner upon completion of the match. After the 45 holes of round robin play were complete there would be three teams advance to the "shootout." These three teams would be each winner of the respective flights and a wildcard team. (most points to not win a flight) After a grueling 45 holes of matches the winners of the "Venango Flight" were Mark Majewski and 8 rookie Keegan Alloway. Fueled by consistent play from Majewski, and some very impressive nines from Alloway, this duo ran away with their flight and posted an impressive 29.5 points in the match play. The "Treasure Lake Flight" was more jumbled up towards the top. Powered by an impressive 12.5 points on the final day, 8 veteran Cole Davis and 8 rookie "Chef" Roy Smith came away on top, posting 28.5 points. The wildcard spot came down to the wire in the 2022 event. Driven by an astonishing final day 61 from 2022 MVP Matt Barto, he and Zane Dudek snagged the final spot, winning the wildcard by just a half point at 26.5. The shootout was not lacking drama itself. On the second playoff hole, Dudek hit a slinging cut 3 wood behind the 18th green and allowed Barto to chip it close and secure the win for the duo. This victory marked the first for both Barto and Dudek.
Venango Flight
Majewski/Alloway 29.5
Barto/Dudek 26.5
Wight/Benvenuti 26
Mertz/Cappella 25
Bartley/Holmes 21
Watt/Pawlikowski 21
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Treasure Lake Flight
Davis/R. Smith 28.5
Schrift/Rice 26
Gerger/T. Smith 25.5
Mele/Colbert 25.5
Vaughan/Klodowski 25
Zappala/Rearic 19.5
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2021
Treasure Lake
In 2021 the field was made up of five teams of four, with each team captained by one individual. Team Marsico, (Gregor Meyer, Demetri Mele, Mark Calandra and Michael Marsico) came out on top with a score of -37. The format in 2021 was 18 holes of best 2 balls of 4 (strokes included) and 18 holes of a four man scramble. Team Marsico shot -21 in the first round to open up a comfortable five shot lead heading into the second round. Unanimous 8 MVP Mark Calandra was the driving force behind Team Marsico's victory. Calandra fired a career low 74 in the first round to help Team Marsico build their lead. However, no lead is ever safe in The 8 as Team Marsico had to ensure they did not let their foot off the gas in the final round and let their lead slip. The four Fox Chapel graduates still had their work cut out for them during the second round, as Team Davis was hot on their tail. Kyle Luben woke up feeling dangerous, as his putter was red hot starting the scramble. Team Davis used an early eagle, on the back of a Kyle Luben 60' bomb, on the par 5 second to pull within three shots of Team Marsico. However, Meyer and Calandra kept the foot on the throttle just like they did the whole tournament by throwing darts all over the Silver Course at Treasure Lake and helping their squad maintain a comfortable lead. With this victory Marsico and Calandra have moved into a tie for the most 8 titles (2).
Scores: Team Marsico -37
(Marsico, Calandra, Mele, Meyer)
Team Davis -31
(Davis, C. Veltri, Mertz, Luben)
Team Barto -29
(Barto, Oliver, Klodowski, Smith)
Team Majewski -29
(Majewski, Caskey, A. Veltri, Spang)
Team Gerger -29
(Gerger, Colbert, Pawlikowski, Capella)
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2020
Whispering Woods
The first ever "8 Cup" was cut short due to uncooperative weather that came over Erie, PA halfway through the second round. However, the field was able to play 27+ holes before the skies opened up. The matches were very tight, and it was looking as if each point was going to be crucial coming down the stretch. Marsico and Bartley lost their opening match on day one to Gerger and Calandra, however the rest of their team was able to pick them up. Billy Rosemeyer and Noah Spang defeated Mark Majewski and Patrick Monteverde in the second match. Matt Barto and Tom Smith were able to win a thriller over Jordan Klodowski and Zane Dudek in the third match to make it two points in a row for team Marsico/Bartley. In the final match, Jacob Mertz and Cole Davis were able to win the last three holes over Emmett Caskey and Kyle Luben to scratch out a much needed halve for team Gerger/Calandra. After day one, Marsico and Bartley led 2.5-1.5. Heading into day two, everyone knew it would be a tight finish and those playing were looking forward to getting back on the course to play the singles matches. When the rain came pounding down, the boys were on holes 12-14. Team Gerger/Calandra saw more success in the day two singles matches, as they led in four matches at the time of the delay, while Marsico/Bartley led in three, and one match was halved. After it was clear that the storm was not passing any time soon, the tournament was called. Although the boys were not able to finish the event, it did not take away from what was both a fun and competitive weekend.
2019
Venango Valley
Mike Gerger and Mark Calandra conquered the deep and talented field in the 2019 tournament. The field expanded to 16 players and eight teams in the year 2019 for the first time, making it even tougher to come out on top. Propelled by a Mike Gerger eagle on the ninth hole, the duo was able to climb their way into a tie at the top making the turn. This eagle turned out to be the start of a back nine battle for the ages between this duo and President and Vice President Michael Marsico and Griffin Bartley. Bartley would proceed to make a 16 foot birdie putt on 18 to tie things up at -9 momentarily. However, Mark Calandra then stepped up and drilled home a 12 foot putt to grab the title for the much deserving duo.
Scores: Mike Gerger/Mark Calandra: 62
Michael Marsico/Griffin Bartley: 63
Cole Davis/Zane Dudek: 64
Matt Barto/Michael Hudic: 64
Mark Majewski/Kyle Luben: 67
Jacob Mertz/Jake Schrift: 68
Billy Rosemeyer/Noah Spang: 69
Andrew Reynolds/Tyler Arnold: 71
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2018
Cranberry Highlands
Michael Marsico and Patrick Monteverde came out on top over the talented field and left Cranberry Highlands as champions in the second year of "The 8." The duo shot a two-man better ball score of 7 under par 63. Propelled by a late 3 for 2 by Patrick Monteverde on the par 4 14th, the long bombing duo held off young gunner Gregor Meyer and Savvy veteran Drew Pawlikowski.
Scores: Michael Marsico /Patrick Monteverde: 63
Gregor Meyer/Drew Pawlikowski: 64
Matt Barto/Matt Friday: 65
Cole Davis/Zane Dudek: 65
2017
Totter Ridge
Matt Friday and Grant Thiele claimed the title in the first year of "The 8" at Totter Ridge in a sudden death playoff over Michael Marsico and Griffin Bartley. Both teams were tied at the top with a score of 6 under par 66. The format for the first year was a front nine two man scramble, back nine two man better ball. Playing the 18th hole again in a 2 man better ball sudden death playoff, Friday and Thiele made par while Marsico and Bartley made bogey.
Scores: Matt Friday/Grant Thiele: 66
Michael Marsico/Griffin Bartley: 66
Michael Gerger/Max Hoffman: 68
Mark Calandra/Billy Rosemeyer: 69
"It is an honor to be selected to participate in this prestigious event. I hope to make my "mark" by taking home the title."
Mark Majewski
"Nothing goes better with a buttery swing like some FIGJAM"
Matt Barto
