Lifer & Passalacqua Win First Women's 4-ball Championship

Lisa Lifer of Panther Valley enjoyed another ‘first” on Monday, July 15, when she paired with Joy Passalacqua of Pinch Brook to win the inaugural NJSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton.

Lifer and Passalacqua combined for a one-under-par 36-35-71 to win the gross title. Sue Sardi and Peggy Ference of Cherry Valley (36-38-74) took second place.

Allaghi and Kucinski won the net division (73-7-66), on a match of cards over Yunhee Kang and Monica Schumacher of New Jersey National (79-13-66). Debbie Goldberg and Barbara Gross of Trump National-Bedminster took third in net (85-18-67).

The duo of Shari Zola of Burlington and Kelly Platt of Mercer Oaks was awarded third in gross at 42-40-82.

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As an individual, Lifer won the inaugural Women’s Public Links championship at Royce Brook in 2004. The team round on Monday included four birdies and three bogeys, including a birdie on the par-3 17th hole.

“I’m really excited the NJSGA has a Four-Ball Championship now. I’m very pleased to win the first one because it is special for me to do something like this twice in my career. The team competition opens up tournament play for a lot more golfers,” said Lifer, 54, a consultant in pharmaceutical marketing who lives in Hackettstown.

“Aesthetically, this course was great. It was a great blend of holes and very challenging,” said Lifer, a 14 handicap. “We knew we playing well when I’d put my approach iron to six feet and Joy would put her shot inside mine.”

“Our irons and our putting was our strong suit today,” said Passalacqua, 56, a retired guidance director who lives in Parsippany. She carries a 4 handicap. “We had a practice round here last week and we knew where to place the tee shots and which way the greens were running.”

The pair are both members of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. Each October, they are among a group of 20 who fly to Daytona and compete for four days at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Cloast, Fla.

“I have to give credit to my pro, Tom Delaney of Basking Ridge,” said Passalacqua, who has won two Morris County Publinx championships. “He helped me with my ball striking and short game.”