FCBA Members Enjoy Annual Golf Event

Published: August 22, 2018

On Monday, August 20, the FCBA held its 14th Annual CLE and Golf Event at the scenic Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, New York.

Bellevue Country Club

Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse

More than a dozen FCBA members attended the CLE program, which began at 10 a.m. and offered attendees a CLE credit in the area of Professional Practice. Entitled “Update and Strategies on Expert Witnesses in Federal Court from the Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s Perspectives,” the program was presented by Robert Smith, from Costello, Cooney & Fearon PLLC, and Michael Porter, from Porter, Nordby Howe LLP.

Twenty-seven FCBA members played in the golf event, which began at 1 p.m. and took the form of a tournament. Five groups competed in a Captain-and-Crew Division and two groups competed in a Best-Ball Division. Together they tackled the rolling, tree-lined fairways and fast, contoured greens of one of the best, and most difficult, courses in Central New York.

The Captain-and-Crew Division was won by the team of retired Justice Joseph Teresi (from the Albany County Supreme Court), Paul Devane, Don Kinsella, and retired teacher Tom West, with a score of 3 under par. Justice Teresi and Mr. Devane were also part of last year’s winning team.

Second place went to the team of John Powers, Alan Pierce, John Corcoran and Ryan Poplawski (all from the law firm of Hancock Estabrook LLP), with a score of 2 under par.

The Best-Ball Division was won by the team of Michael Porter, Colin Leonard (from the law firm of Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC), Andrew Beakman (Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel of Utica College) and Michael Langan (law clerk to the Hon. Glenn Suddaby) with a score of 9 under par. They tied the team of Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby, Senior U.S. District Judge Norman Mordue, and the Hon. Robert Durr (Onondaga County Attorney), but prevailed by use of the “card off” system (in which cards are matched to determine the best score for the last 9 holes). Chief Judge Suddaby was part of last year’s winning team.

The long drive awards were won by Don Kinsella on the 5th hole, and Ryan Poplawski on the 18th hole. The closest-to-the-pin awards were won by Christopher Harrigan (from the law firm of Barclay Damon LLP) with a shot to 7 feet 8 inches on the 3rd hole, and Robert Thorpe (also from Barclay Damon LLP) with a shot to 3 feet 4 inches on the 13th hole. Prizes consisted of gift certificates to the pro shop.

Following the golf event, members enjoyed cocktails and a buffet dinner. The FCBA welcomes members to participate in next year’s event in the Albany area.