The last to pose for a group photo just off the 18th green at Holiday Valley Resort were Tommy Tantillo; his wife, Diana; their toddler son, Stefano; and Tantillo’s parents, Frank and Sara. As they smiled at a bunch of cellphone cameras, Stefano — as if on cue — innocently raised his right hand and pointed his index finger toward the sky.

Coincidence? Maybe, but there was no doubt that his dad and playing partner, Nick Bell, were, in fact, indeed No. 1 in the 88-team field.

Courtesy of a magnificent putt that put him in tap-in range, Tantillo made par (net birdie) on the first playoff hole to send he and Bell to the championship for the first time.

Pete Morgante and Jon Gren Jr., who were the overall runnersup, were tied with Tantillo and Bell at 19-under after regulation, but were unable to extend the match in the playoff, which allowed the latter tandem to win their first I-A championship in their seventh try.

Nick Bell, left, and Tommy Tantillo read a putt on the playoff hole. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

“The I-A is our major, it’s our ‘Masters,'” Bell said. ” … We’re thankful we had the opportunity to play in it.”

The victory was one of redemption of sorts for Tantillo, who missed a short putt on the final hole a few years ago that would have sent him and Bell into a playoff. It was also a victory that affirmed Tantillo’s resilience and focus because the last few months have been trying ones for he and his family after Stefano was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“Having him here as I was coming off the green is a moment I’ll never forget,” Tantillo said, “and I’ll be able to tell him about it someday.”

He’ll have plenty of stories to repeat, most notably the 30-foot putt that Bell made from off the green on No. 14 for a net birdie that helped the longtime friends post a 7-under 63, as well as “dear old dad’s” effort with the “flat stick” on the playoff hole that clinched the victory.

“Best putt of the weekend,” Bell said.

Added Tantillo: “We’ve had some good rounds at the I-A, but I don’t think we were sniffing the finish line like we did. We know what it’s like now and we feel more comfortable being out there. … We didn’t really talk about a number. We just took it shot by shot. … We stayed in the game. We didn’t think about a big goal.”

Ironically, the biggest goal — an Italian-American Charity Golf Association championship — was now theirs. And if anyone needed confirmation of that Saturday evening, all he or she had to do was look in the direction of the little boy who Tantillo was holding in his arms during the post-round celebration.

Stefano’s smile told the story.

“To be able to win it is something that we always dreamed of,” Tantillo said, “and here it is.”

NOTES: Following are the flight winners: George Panebianco-John O’Mara (62-62-69-193), First Flight; Jim Panebianco and Sean Larson (68-64-63-195), Second Flight; Pete Pillittieri-Andy Sandstrom (70-65-62-197), Third Flight; Anthony Peppy-Reid VanEvery (70-64-65-199), Fourth Flight; Paul Mole Jr.-David Lobb (74-64-60-198), Fifth Flight; Busty Tricari-Steve Johnson (76-63-68-207), Sixth Flight; and Chris Cusimano-Josh Nelson (81-64-67-212), Seventh Flight.

CHAMPIONS

Tommy Tantillo-Nick Bell 62-66-63-191

RUNNERS-UP

Pete Morgante-Jon Gren Jr. 62-66-63-191

FIRST FLIGHT

George Panebianco-John O’Mara 62-62-69-193

Rob Foti-Craig Lundgren 66-68-61-195

Colin Lodestro-Jon Geisler 65-63-70-198

Michael Schifano-Alex Johnson 64-70-64-198

Ray Paladino-Robert Saltzman 65-63-71-199

Anthony Gullo-Jake Dwaileebe 64-69-68-201

Zack Panebianco-Matt Hoaglund 65-68-68-201

Tom Brigiotta-John Anderson 67-70-64-201

Jordan Bardo-Jordan Woleen 66-66-76-212

SECOND FLIGHT

Jim Panebianco-Sean Larson 68-64-63-195

Joe Vitello-Colin Whitermore 67-65-66-198

Tim D’Angelo-Jason Stronz 68-66-67-201

John Trussalo-Tim Magnuson 68-68-67-201

Paul Pappalardo-Patrick Langworthy 68-70-64-202

David Munella-David Currie 67-67-71-205

Sam Restivo-Shane O’Mara 68-75-62-205

Mike Martinelli-Patrick MacIntyre 68-69-69-206

John L. LaMancuso-Mike Roberts 69-70-68-207

Henry Mole-Tom Ames 68-72-67-207

Lucian DiNapoli-Ryan Yager 68-72-70-210

Nick Amatuzzo-Jake Berg 69-73-76-218

THIRD FLIGHT

Pete Pillittieri-Andy Sandstrom 70-65-62-197

Brett Cappa-Derek Dawson 70-62-67-199

Matt Traniello-Aaron Thomas-Leone 70-66-66-202

Alex Bianco-Troy Carlson 69-64-70-203

Fred Pellerito-Dan Cheney 69-68-68-205

John Sirianno-Ryan Calkins 69-72-65-206

Chris Papplaardo-Dan Brunenavs 69-68-70-207

Bucky Lombardo-Rich Shelley 69-67-72-208

Blake Tarana-Quint Lawson 70-70-71-210

Anthony Cusimano-Chad Peterson 70-70-71-211

Bill Malenga-Salim Sarvaiya 70-70-74-214

Joe Calimeri-Chris Hammond 70-72-86-228

FOURTH FLIGHT

Anthony Peppy-Reid Van Every 70-64-65-199

Sebastian Baggiano-Gary Yager 70-68-69-207

Jordan Coccagnia-Kyle Rensel 72-71-65-208

Dominic Salvaggio Jr.-Zach Vogle 72-73-64-209

Tony Triscari-Randy Nelson 71-76-65-212

Mike Condella-Tim Mead 72-70-71-213

Adam Gullo-Dylan Lundmark 72-70-72-214

Jasyn Consiglio-Josh Dankovish 70-78-67-215

Nick Trussalo-Kyle Morse 73-68-76-217

Jordan Ricotta-Ben Lindquist 70-77-72-219

Josh Ricotta-Kyle Luce 72-75-78-225

Carl Pillittieri-Dave Bogdan 72-79-78-229

FIFTH FLIGHT

Paul Mole Jr.-David Lobb 74-64-60-198

Paul Mole-Steve Anderson 73-65-70-208

Nick Conti-Tommy Fales 73-70-66-209

Casey Digirolamo-PJ Degnan 73-66-71-210

Jim LaMancuso-Chad Waddington 73-68-69-210

Gregg Pietrocarlo-Hans Auer 73-74-63-210

Greg Mareri-Jerome Davis 73-70-72-215

Dennis Palermo-Bernie Auer 74-71-72-217

Sam Triscari-Dave Rowe 74-74-70-218

Drew Rinaldo-Levi Madden 74-74-76-224

Jayme Genco-Tim Anderson 73-73-79-225

Mike Panebianco-Tanner Merchant 73-80-75-228

SIXTH FLIGHT

Busty Triscari-Steve Johnson 76-63-68-207

Dave Foti-Nick Madden 77-67-70-214

Todd D’Angelo-Joe Willig 75-72-70-217

Tyler Coccagnia-Kyle Forsberg 75-71-73-219

Chris Prinzi-Brian Dwaileebe 77-67-76-220

Angelo Volpe-Jim Brown 77-78-66-221

Sam LaMancuso Jr.-Kyle Hellman 75-67-80-222

Joe Sinatra-Dave Leathers 75-71-76-222

Sam Peppy Jr.-Charlie Moss 76-72-74-222

Todd Frangione-Mark Tarbrake 75-75-77-227

Anthony Tuccio-Dan Hocking 74-76-77-227

Brooks Landy-Ryan Thompson 77-71-80-228

Ryan Calalesina-Corey Schmitt 76-81-73-230

Lucas Munella-John Samuelson 76-80-79-235

SEVENTH FLIGHT

Chris Cusimano-Josh Nelson 81-64-67-212

Steve Cusimano-Jim Pullan 79-66-70-215

Sandy Volpe Jr.-Jamie Barton 77-66-81-224

John Foti-Charlie Gregg 79-73-73-225

Joe Frangione-Tyler Nelson 78-75-73-226

Nolan Scoma-Alelx Schupp 77-73-77-227

Matt Spunaugle-Jake Swieg 84-71-77-232

Nick Yachetta-Brandon Johnston 82-71-80-233

Bob Marchiando-Barry Minsker 81-79-73-233

Joe Paterniti-Paul Weinstein 81-77-79-237

Mike Yezzi-Matt Robbins 79-85-74-238

Jeremy Casel-Dave Kianos 79-82-82-243

Mike Prinzi-Andrew Small 84-85-74-243

Joe Cordosi-Jake Kane 81-79-85-245