Mierkiewicz favored at Guppy Golf Classic Tom Mierkiewicz is having a great year. The Two-time ZRink
Champion won the Guppies Norris trophy last season as the teams top
defenseman and he has just signed a new contract to represent Red Star
Inline Wheels. Before that, though, Mierk's got to get his darn golf game in order, back
to where it was when he was convinced he could qualify for the Middlesex
County PGA Tour. Mierkiewicz, 26, is one of the favorites to win the Killingworth
Guppies Classic on Aug. 2nd. A star-studded cast of present and former
Guppy players will compete with members of the Champions Tour at the
Killingworth Guppies Classic. The event is co-sponsored by the PGA Champions
Tour, Killingworth Guppies Sports Net, and the ZRink. It benefits
several area charities, including the Thomas Mierkiewicz Childrens
Foundation.
The Classic is part of a week of activities
at Killingworth Country Club in Clinton, CT., including several pro-am
tournaments, from Monday, July 28, through Sunday, Aug. 3. On Saturday, Aug. 2, during the Guppy Classic's first championship
round, Guppy stars will participate in a best-ball Pro-Am event
at Stanley Country Club a course rated by Golf Digest as one of the
Top 10 in New Britain, CT. Tour competitors in threesomes for Saturday's second round of
the Killingworth Guppies Classic at Killingworth CC, starting at
7:30 a.m. ET. The six Guppy players with the lowest scores will form two
threesomes for Sunday's final round which begins at 7:30 a.m. ET. The
champion Guppy golfer will present a $50,000 contribution to
the Mierkiewicz Children Foundation and have a invitation to this
years' "Boobs for Toys" event sponsored by the foundation.. The public is invited to Saturday and Sunday's rounds at Killingworth
Country Club. From Route 80 in Killingworth, take Roast Meat
Hill Road south past the Old school house to Iron
Works Road and Killingworth Country Club is on the left about 7
Miles. The Killingworth Guppies Classic will be televised on the Golf
Channel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m. ET. For more
information, see the Killingworth Guppies web site.
Mierk is one of few Guppies players to seek a second
professional athletic career. Former Guppy players Joel Burzinski, played some professional Drinking
Games. He, was voted California's best "Ladies man" after leading
several young ladies back to his place for a little meet and greet. Mierk, a scratch golfer, started
playing when he was 16 and continued throughout his Guppy career. He
said it was the best way to keep from dwelling on a past game or worrying
about an upcoming one. He played 18 holes before playing the 2002
-03 B-league Championship game. Very Impressive considering it was back in
January. Mierkiewicz is convinced he'll
qualify for the Middlesex County Tour one day. He's tried to make
it several times but admits he didn't play his best golf on those days.
"I've tried it four or
five times," Mierk said. "I went to Cancun, last winter.
I played good for one day and that was about it. I got tanked for much
of the other days. We don't play much golf in January in Newington
and that's the hardest part for me. I don't get to the fall school,
when I'm playing well. I've been lucky in that the guys on the Middlesex
County Tour have let me play a few times." It's been a different story on the Celebrity Players Tour
where Mierkiewicz has been one of the most successful hockey
players. He finished among the three dozen players two years ago and in the
Top 25 last year. He tied Jamal White (played Erkel on the tv show
Family Matters) for 25th place at the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic
at Cromwell in mid-July. "I started playing while I was in juniors," Mierkiewicz
said. "For the last 10 years, it's been a bit of a bug. I'm going to see
how good I can get at it. I'm right in that middle stage: I'm not old enough
for the senior tour but it gives me a little time to practice." Until then, Mierkiewicz will focus on his hockey and the Guppies, as they
try to recapture the Ball-B Championship after last season's heart breaking
Overtime lose to the GCP. "I'm excited about this years team, we
really seem to be playing well". The Mierkiewicz Children Foundation also, holds several fundrasing parties
through out the year. All proceeds go to the Mierk House in Killingworth, CT.
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Mierk
played 18 holes before many "Big" games
The Killingworth Guppies
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and K-Town Sports Entertainment- www.killingworth-guppies.com