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<\/p>\nOBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
\nFrom the left are Wednesday Travel League members Tom Destro, Adam Gornikiewicz, Pat Weaver and John Waterman, who were among the 44 golfers who played in Wednesday\u2019s Commissioner\u2019s Cup at Shorewood Country Club.<\/p>\n
In most sports having the highest score wins the game, but that is not the case when golfing. <\/p>\n
Well, except for the 44 golfers competing in the Wednesday Travel League\u2019s Commissioner Cup at Shorewood Country Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the rare tournament where the high score is the overall winner,\u201d Travel League Commissioner John Waterman said. <\/p>\n
The event, held in memory of former commissioner, Bruce \u201cJava\u201d Chrabasz, who passed away 11 years ago, has been played as a tribute to him ever since. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe called him the commissioner of the league,\u201d Waterman said of Chrabasz. \u201cTo be honest, he just wasn\u2019t the greatest golfer, but he enjoyed playing when he played with us. One time he wasn\u2019t there and we jokingly said, \u2018He\u2019s not here, who is going to be the commissioner today?,\u2019 which meant who is going to be the high score, so we started calling it an award every week. He unfortunately passed away in 2014 while on a golf trip with some of the guys down south and we automatically named the Commissioner Award after him.\u201d<\/p>\n
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OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
\nJim Ellman Sr. watches his approach shot from the fairway at Shorewood Country Club on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Each week the award is given to the highest-scoring golfer, but Chrabasz\u2019s impact on the league and event goes beyond just the competition. <\/p>\n
On top of giving out an award in his honor each week and having one of the league\u2019s signature events in his honor, many of the competitors wore the colors of Java\u2019s favorite football team, the Cleveland Browns. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust to remember him,\u201d Waterman added. \u201cHe was a big Cleveland Browns fan, so we try to get everybody to wear the Cleveland Brown colors. Everybody is given a special Cleveland Browns golf ball with a logo on it, and in your foursome you take turns playing one hole with that ball and the next hole you give it to the next guy. You keep a separate score just for what you get with that ball for a team competition, and if you lose the ball you\u2019re out automatically.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the mini game, among the 11 teams at Shorewood CC there were six teams that managed to still have the ball by the end of the round. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy team lost. Our guy hit it deep into the woods on the very first swing,\u201d Waterman said, laughing. \u201cWe never even got to use it. It\u2019s fun for a little extra game.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Jeff-Marsowicz.jpg\")
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OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
\nJeff Marsowicz watches his shot from the fairway at Shorewood Country Club during play in the Wednesday Travel League.<\/p>\n
At the end of the Commissioner Cup\u2019s at Shorewood Country Club Katie Michalak may have had the highest score on Wednesday, but she took home the trophy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a giant orange cup and in it we had a goofy prize,\u201d Waterman added. \u201cWe put some fruit snacks in it and then one guy had the cute idea to give her 43 hershey kisses, one kiss from each guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the event, the league made its way back towards the city and had a banquet at one of Java\u2019s favorite hangouts, the 4th Ward Dunkirk Falcons Club. <\/p>\n
\u201cJava\u2019s big hangout was the Dunkirk\u2019s Falcon Club in the 4th Ward in Dunkirk,\u201d Waterman said. \u201cWe always go there afterwards. We have it catered and everything. We do our festivities up there, presentations and everything. It\u2019s nice because some of his old friends who aren\u2019t even golfers will be invited just for the memory of their friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the event still going strong within the league, it shows just how much Bruce \u201cJava\u201d Chrabasz meant to the members of the Wednesday Travel League, and he still is among the league leaders in third place in Commissioner Cups. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s funny, because once in a while you\u2019ll see a Pittsburgh Steelers fan wearing a Cleveland Browns shirt,\u201d Waterman said. \u201cYou\u2019d never see it any other time, but it just goes to show how much we liked the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Due to a lack of available players, the Silver Creek\/Forestville football team is forfeiting tonight\u2019s game …<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAYVILLE \u2014 Cecelia Tonelli played a factor in all four of Fredonia\u2019s goals in a 4-0 nonleague girls soccer …<\/p>\n <\/p>\n