It may have been a marriage of convenience for Noah Firestone. But the way it played out, it was like a match made in heaven.

On Saturday at the 6,562-yard, par-72 Lebanon Country Club, during the third day of competition at the 71st annual W.B. Sullivan Better-Ball-of-Partners golf tournament, Firestone’s acceptance of Chris Gebhard’s proposal had every look of a right decision. Firestone, a native of Palmyra, and Gebhard, a Lebanon Country Club member, combined their talents for a 3&2 triumph over 14th-seeded Michael DiSante and David Schrantz, in an opening round match of the prestigious event’s championship flight.

Firestone and Gebhard had earned the tournament’s number-three seed in the championship flight by firing a blistering 64 during qualifying earlier in the week.

Last year, Firestone reached the championship match of the Sullivan with partner Brady Goodling. But when Goodling turned professional, Firestone found himself without a partner for this season’s event.

That’s when Gebhard, who was also partner-less, stepped in and proposed a collaboration to Firestone, one day when their paths crossed at LCC prior to the Sullivan. The pairing was almost an instant success.

Firestone also plays competitive golf at the collegiate level, recently transferring from Monmouth University to Bowling Green.

– Jeff Falk