Brooklyn beats Staten Island to win the Verrazano Cup

July 14, 2015 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Hon. Lawrence Knipel (left) and Hon. Bernard Graham (right) were two judges representing the Brooklyn team.

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Judges and lawyers from Brooklyn went head-to-head with their Staten Island counterparts to win their third consecutive Verrazano Cup in Staten Island on Friday.

“It was a magnificent day,” said George Farkas. “We had wonderful weather, beautiful breezes and, more important than everything else, Brooklyn prevailed and kept the cup in a hotly contested match. Everybody enjoyed themselves, but the Brooklyn people more than the Richmond guys.”

The two sides have competed in the tournament each year since at least 2007, when the Richmond County Bar Association took home the trophy. In recent years, Brooklyn has dominated, winning the last three competitions.

“Staten Island jurists and lawyers compete against Brooklyn jurists and lawyers,” Farkas explained. “The judiciary is well-represented, everybody plays hard and then we have a lovely reception afterwards with good cheer and drinks. The winners get to keep the cup. Brooklyn has retained it for the third year in a row.”

Farkas admitted that the Brooklyn golfers felt the pressure during the usually relaxed tournament because Staten Island was determined to make up for the last two years on their home course. It was a close match as the two sides actually tied, but the rules state that in the event of a tie, the reigning champions take home the trophy.

“Last year was at Dyker in Brooklyn and this year was out at Staten Island, which is the home course for many in the tournament, and there is a lot of pride on the line for them,” Farkas said. “It was nice and tight; every shot mattered.”

The tournament heads back to Brooklyn next summer where the golfers will look to four-peat.