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Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere
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RISTORANTE
Hot-Shot Bowler
Good At Golf, Too
R
our amateurs was a guy who played
golf for Florida State University sev-
eral years ago and he was driving 300
yards.”
Rycus’ team had two eagles, both by
an amateur. One came on a 60-yard
chip shot on a par-5 and one came on
an 80-yard chip shot on a par-4.
It was a quick trip to Puerto Rico
for Rycus. The flooring store owner
from East Lansing was on the island
for only about 24 hours. But that was
enough time to attend the pro-am
pairings banquet the night before the
event and become a champion.
“I wanted to get back to Florida
because my family was there,” he said.
Rycus loves to play golf, and he’s a
huge fan of the sport. He’s attended
several PGA tournaments and the
Ryder Cup when it was played at
Oakland Hills Country Club in
Bloomfield Township in 2004.
So he’s spent a lot of time on the
golf course. But he said playing in the
same group with a professional golfer
is something he’ll never forget.
“It was surreal,” he said. “I was liv-
ing a dream. I really enjoyed playing
with Luke. He has a great sense of
humor. You could relax with him. You
felt like you knew him your entire
life.”
Donald ended up tying for 26th
place in the tournament and win-
ning $20,416 out of the $3 million
purse. He shot 3-under-par 69-73-72-
69—283.
Rycus hadn’t received his cham-
pionship trophy from the pro-am as
of last week. But he has swag that
includes golf balls, a golf shirt, hat,
belt, shoes and sunglasses.
He had a choice of using his own
clubs or a new set of clubs in the pro-
am, and he chose the new set.
No, he didn’t get to keep that.
*
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WISHING YOU
A VERY HAPPY
PASSOVER!
$ 22.95
Includes Petite Filet, antipasto plate, side of pasta,
salad, soup, potato and vegetable.
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(248) 538-8954
33210 W. 14 Mile Rd
In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd.
West Bloomfield
Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pmtFri: 11am-11pm
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Happy Passover!
Steve Stein | Contributing Writer
on Rycus was enjoying a vaca-
tion in Bonita Springs, Fla., last
month when he got a call he
didn’t expect from a family friend.
It wasn’t bad news. It was great
news.
Rycus was offered a chance to play
about a week later in the pro-am event
that preceded the Puerto Rico Open
PGA golf tournament.
“Puerto Rico is only a two-hour
flight away from Bonita Springs, so I
figured, ‘Why not?’” Rycus said.
After a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to
compete in the International B’nai
B’rith Bowling Association tourna-
ment, Rycus returned to Florida then
jetted to Puerto Rico for the March 23
pro-am.
If Rycus’ name sounds familiar, it
should. He was featured in this col-
umn March 3 after he bowled a 750
series with 30 strikes Jan. 17 in the
Greater Lansing B’nai B’rith Bowling
League. He had just turned 70 and
underwent hip replacement surgery
Dec. 3, 2015. His bowling resume also
includes a 300 game in 2010 and mak-
ing a 7-10 split in 2012.
At the golf tournament, Rycus and
three other amateurs were paired with
pro Luke Donald, an Englishman who
was ranked No. 1 in the world for 56
weeks a few years ago.
Rycus’ team won the event.
“All of us played great,” he said. “It
was one of those magical days.”
Each pro hit his drives from the
back tees of the par-72, 7,506-yard
Coco Beach Golf & Country Club
course that was designed by Tom Kite.
The amateurs hit their drives from
the blue tees, about 25 yards closer to
each hole, used the best drive for their
next shot and continued to play from
there.
“Whoever had the best score — pro
or amateur with handicap — on each
hole counted for your team,” Rycus
said. “We were lucky because one of
OUR PETITE FILET DINNER
IS HAPPENING AGAIN!
2071830
Ron Rycus, right,
and Puerto Rico
Open pro-am
teammate Robbie
Kleiman, left, of
Orlando, Fla.,
celebrate their
win with pro Luke
Donald. About 120
golfers competed
in the event.
May you be blessed with
happiness,prosperity
and good health!
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April 14 • 2016
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