Updated, 7:20 p.m. ET
The talking points for Jets guard Brian Winters so far have been:
■ Third-round draft selection out of Kent State.
■ Huge dude with huge hands.
■ "Three tattoos" — one covering his left arm, one on his right, and one down his back.
Today Winters added one more line to his bio
■ One of the best golfers on the current Jets.
We would say best golfer instead of one of the best except that the best-ball-of-fivesome format can hide several weaknesses. But Winters and his team definitely ruled in the ninth annual New York Jets Charity Golf Classic at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
Winters and the NRG #2 team — Cole Macciole, Bill Conway, Michael Sosidka and John Kaufman — came in at 12-under-par 60 for their 18 holes on the Trump National old course, built on 12 birdies and six pars.
That was three strokes better than the second-place team on the old course. Bollinger Inc., carded a 63 with assistant special teams coach Louie Aguiar and the foursome of Tim Hoover, Mike Gerardi, Matt Gardner and Brian Kern,
On the new course, 9-under 63s were also turned in by MetLife #2 — WRs coach Sanjay Lal plus Andrew Stocker, Javier Yturralde, Bill Wilkinson and Alves Neri — and by Tzell Travel — Jets radio play-by-play voice Bob Wischusen plus Jerry Behrens, Chuck Imhof, Arthur Khan and Bob Gerome. MetLife#2 won the new course round based on a match of cards according to USGA rules.
This year's Classic teed off around 10:30 a.m. after introductions from Wischusen and remarks from team president Neil Glat, general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan. Idzik played 18 holes and Ryan said, "Maybe I'll smack a ball or two around," and did just that by moving from hole to hole and hitting a tee shot, then moving on to another next hole and fivesome.
The Jets were well-represented as always at the event, and this year they weren't soaked to their, in many cases, designer golf togs after the first hole. The weather in Central Jersey this morning was mostly sunny, cool and breezy but there was no rain.
Among the Jets veterans and first-year players on hand to golf with the almost 50 foursomes were Royce Adams, Antonio Allen, Antwan Barnes, Aaron Berry, Josh Bush, Willie Colon, Quinton Coples, Antonio Cromartie, Donnie Fletcher, Nick Folk, Antonio Garay, Austin Howard, Dennis Landolt, Dawan Landry, Ellis Lankster, Bret Lockett, Robert Malone, Nick Mangold, Greg McElroy, Tanner Purdum, Ryan Quigley, Hayden Smith, Jacquies Smith, Travis Tripucka, Isaiah Trufant, Jordan White, Muhammad Wilkerson and Kyle Wilson.
The Jets 2013 draft class also was in attendance, with Geno Smith, Winters, Oday Aboushi, Will Campbell and Tommy Bohanon playing. Dee Milliner was on hand but with his rehabbing shoulder didn't swing the sticks. So was Ryan's coaching staff, as well as assistant GM Scott Cohen and senior personnel executive Terry Bradway.
And Jets alumni Greg Buttle, Jay Fiedler, Aaron Glenn and Marty Lyons also teed off with the field. Each foursome was matched with a player, coach or Jets alumnus.
All proceeds from today's event benefit the New York Jets Foundation and the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center. This tournament will bring in close to $500,000, and more than $1.5 million has been raised in the previous eight Classics.
About the New York Jets Foundation
The New York Jets take great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation touch the lives of countless young men and women in the tristate area by promoting fitness, health and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Over the past 12 years, the Jets and their charitable foundation have contributed more than $12 million to a wide range of community-based causes.
About the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center
The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center is a non-profit public foundation whose mission is to inspire community philanthropy to advance exceptional health care for patients at Morristown Medical Center. In 2013, Morristown Medical Center marks 121 years serving the northern New Jersey community. Morristown Medical Center is part of Atlantic Health System, the official health care of the NY Jets. The medical center has been nationally ranked for cardiology, heart surgery and gynecology by U.S. News & World Report, which also deemed it the best regional hospital in nine other medical specialties. Physicians throughout the state just ranked Morristown Medical Center as the top hospital in New Jersey for the third consecutive year and No. 1 in the state for hip and knee repair.
