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local golf

The Times Leader Staff

The first round of the annual Potentate tournament at Irem Golf Club was postponed on Friday due to the heavy rain that blanketed the area.

The first round will be held today with Friday’s tee times going off today at the same time. The schedule for the rest of the tournament has yet to be determined.

The defending championship team of Walt Kuharchick and Ron Pieczynski, who claimed their unprecedented 10th title last year, will begin their quest for an 11th championship when they tee off at 8 a.m. today.

The team closest to the duo in career wins in the tournament is Mark Kopec and Carlyle Robinson with five. Kopec is paired with Richard James this year and will tee off at 12:50 p.m., while Robinson has teamed up with Tom Stitzer. Robinson-Stitzer won the tournament in 2002 and 2003 and will begin playing at 12 p.m.

Kuharchick-Pieczynski defeated Jim Hoover and Bill Gaylord in last year’s finals. The runners-up from last year and a team which has won the event twice in 2005 and 2007 will tee off at 8:40 a.m.

The team of Jim Blinn and Brian Corbett, who won the tourney in 2006, will start at 8 a.m. and be paired with Kuharchick and Pieczynski.

Today’s First Round Tee Times

Hole No. 1

7 a.m. -- Bill Yoh-Joe Breck, Steve Federici-Paul Pitarra; 7:10 -- Bill Lozo-Ed Lozo,Chuck Lipinski-Chuck Lipinski Sr.; 7:20 -- Charlie Gelso-Tony Gallis, Brett Slocum-Armand Mascoli; 7:30 – Don Cragle-Jason Pozniak, Neal Tarulli-Karl Arbogast; 7:40 -- Alan Evans-Joe Sabol, Mike Pocceschi-Bryan Pocceschi; 7:50 -- Robert Bolton-Steve Skammer, Jim Breck-John Mulhern; 8:00 -- Walt Kuharchick-Ron Pieczynski, Jim Blinn-Brian Corbett; 8:10 -- John Bittner-Fred Johnson, Scott Maxwell-Tom McGrath Jr.; 8:20 -- Bob Roberts-Mike Sharok, Rowland Roberts-Bret Evansl 8:30 -- George Thomas-Rob Michaels, John Saba-Lee Ekert; 8:40 -- Kevin Fisher-Jeff Hodorowski, Jim Hoover-Bill Gaylord; 8:50 -- Phil Lipski-Bob Lipski, Earl Thompson-Gary Sagan Jr.; Potentate; 9:00 – Potentate; 11:30 -- Gary Sagan Sr.-Robert Riviello, Jack Mascioli-Chuck Giardina; 11:40 -- Roy Smith-Mike Lazevnick, Dr. C. Brand-Joe Weiscarger; 11:50 -- Robert Mugford-Robert Gill, Mike Prokopchak-Gary Neupauer; 12:00 -- Tom Stitzer-Carlyle Robinson, Bruce Gover-Chad Rado; 12:10 -- Clarke D. Bittner-Buddy Reed, Kerry Freeman-John Churnetski; 12:20 -- John Kennedy-Jack Zarno, Dave Kaschak-John Baranowski; 12:30 -- Dave Sutton-Mike Patte, Gary Krawetz-Marty Behm; 12:40 -- Ed Maier-Jeff Farley, Bob Kunkle-Chris Jones; 12:50 -- Jim Fronzoni-Bob Zagorsky, Richard James- Mark Kopec; 1:00 -- Eric Paczewski-Tom Kilduff, Dave Evans-Bernie Vinovrski; 1:10 -- Ron Fitser-Dave Harris, Dr. John Ellis-Ted Wilson; 1:20 -- Ken Cook-Mike Harper, Bob Valatka-Gene Salko

Hole No. 10

7 a.m. -- Cataldo Saitta-Tony Clapps, Wally Pilger-Henry Kupstas; 7:10 -- Lew Pryor-Ron Orkwis, Mike Orlando-Joe Orlando; 7:20 -- James O’Boyle-Randy Freas, Thomas Dolan-Mark Farrell; 7:30 -- Allan Hetkowski-Jonathan Budziak, Keith Hillard-Chris Brojakowski; 7:40 -- Peter Welgus-Rich Franks, Mike Rupp-Chet Yavorski; 7:50 -- Peter Pitarra-Fred Mazur, Jay Humphreys-Jim Carr; 8:00 -- Randy Xanakis-Sean Xenakis, Rich Sabol-Dino Mazarki; 8:10 -- Ron Dove-Tom Iskra, Frank E. Hill-Mike Wills; 8:20 -- Al Endres-Andy Kuffa, Jack Bonczewski-Bill Chase; 8:30 -- John Doyle-Joe Bartell, Charlie Preece-Rob Blas�; 8:40 -- Brian Suder-Jamie Walsh, Gary Vanderburg-Dave Barilla; 8:50 -- Leland Moran-Anthony Heck, Kent Jones-Terry Jones; 9:00 – Potentate, Potentate; 11:30 -- Richard Popovitch-Jeff Bluhm, Mike Judge-Conor Judge; 11:40 -- Jim Clark-Joe Grimes, Joe Marut-Ted Patton; 11:50 -- D.L. Sadvary-D.J. Sadvary, Joe Mamary-Mark Mettler; 12:00 p.m. -- Karl Blight Jr.-Bill Ostroskie, Ryan Holthaus-Dave Straley; 12:10 -- John Yaple-Dan Podwika, John Konicki-Dave Kern; 12:20 -- Brian Hampel-John Carey, Scott Francis-Lou Belgio; 12:30 -- Willard Race-Jason Race, Sid May-Brian Zimmerman; 12:40 -- Larry Lettie-George Kostrobala, Kirk Borchert-Paul Detwiler; 12:50 -- Bernie Simonovich-Marty Zimniski, Joe Rubbico-Leo Yerashunas; 1:00 -- Larry Harding-Pete Albano, Henry Evans-Jeff Allen; 1:10 -- Tim Connolly-Mark Callahan, Robert Edgerton-Bill Mainwaring; 1:20 -- W. Barry Blannett-Bill Krywicki, Larry Brown-Joe Ryan