The only thing hotter than the weather on Sunday at St. Marys Golf and Country Club was Rich Parsons!
Parsons fired a sizzling, three-under-par 69 on the final day of the two-day event to retain his Men’s Club champion title at St. Marys G&CC.
It’s the sixth time Parsons has claimed the Men’s Club championship—dating back to 1997 and 1998 when he also won it on back-to-back years.
“I feel fantastic,” the one-handicapper said as he accepted congratulations from fellow members Sunday. “It’s bragging rights for one more year.
“I just felt like I could win this year,” Parsons continued. “I felt if I could putt well, I could win, and I putted well on fast, fast greens.”
Did he feel the pressure of being defending club champion, Parsons was asked.
“The pressure was last year when I was 50 years old and being able to win it again,” he replied.
“My only game plan today was to catch Dan. I thought I’d have to shoot 70 because I thought he might shoot even par.”
Parsons said he played a “safe” round of golf on Sunday.
“I just played safe. I hit a lot better irons today than (Saturday). I hit real good irons today, tough long irons.
“And I pride myself on chipping well, and I chipped well today. When I missed greens, I still got up and down.”
Two shots back after opening day
Parsons, who also had a sore lower back to contend with, began Sunday two shots behind clubhouse leader Dan Murrell, who shot a nice two-under 70 (with four birdies on the back nine) on Saturday.
Parsons and Kevin Thompson both finished the opening day with 72s, while Marty Rutledge had a 73. Along with Murrell, they comprised Sunday’s final foursome in the ‘A’ Flight (0 to 5 handicaps).
Last year, Parsons won the club championship by one shot after sinking a birdie putt on No. 18. This year, it wasn’t even close as he out-distanced his closest competitor, Murrell, by seven shots.
Eagle on No. 12 turning point
On Sunday, Parsons collected birdies on No. 1, 6, 15 and 18. He also had an eagle on the par 5, No. 12 hole, draining a putt from the “fringe” of the green. Murrell, who called it the day’s “turning point”, birdied the same hole, but ended up dropping a shot to Parsons.
“That hole was huge,” Parsons agreed.
Murrell, who finished day two with a 78 and a 148 total, was also low-net winner in ‘A’ Flight.
“I’m very happy with the way I played, both days actually,” Murrell said Sunday. “I wasn’t playing that well coming into this weekend, and to be four-over (par) for the tournament . . . I’ll take that.
“Nobody was going to beat Richie Parsons the way he played; he played great and took advantage of his breaks. He was a clutch golfer today . . . and hats off to Richie.”
Posting the third-best low gross scores were Kevin Thompson (72-77) and Marty Rutledge (73-76), who both finished with 149 two-day totals.
Rutledge, who won the title in 2005 and 2008, had this to say about Parsons' round on Sunday: “Richie was a magician out there today. Anytime he got in trouble, he got out of it.”
Veteran Jimmy Craigmile (77-73-150) and another former men’s club champ, Dave Shepley (75-77-152), had the next best ‘A’ Flight scores. Shepley was men's champ in 2004 and 2007.
Bertrand claims ‘B’ Flight title
Glenn Bertrand carded rounds of 77 and 79 to win ‘B’ Flight honours (6 to 10 handicaps).
Bertrand’s 156 two-day total was eight shots better than John Rittenhouse (78-86-164), who had the second-best low gross score. Greg Bettger (88-83-171) was third.
Low net winner in ‘B’ Flight was Troy Carter.
In ‘C’ Flight (11-and-up handicaps), Bob Mills topped the field by a 10-shot margin. The lefty had rounds of 81 and 90 for a 171 two-day total.
After the first day, Mills said he easily could have been four shots better.
Walter Mittelstaedt (92-89-181) and Ed Parkinson (94-91-185) were second and third, respectively.
Low net winner in ‘C’ Flight was Pete Vossen.
Club championship notes:
•Almost 40 golfers competed in this year’s Men’s Club tournament. Sixteen men were in 'A' Flight (0 to 5 handicaps).
•Rich Parsons is also this year’s Senior Club champion at St. Marys.
He capped his brilliant round on Sunday with a tap-in birdie on No. 18.
•St. Marys G&CC general manager Rick Fifield said the men’s club championship was blessed with “perfect weather” this year.
He also thanked his wife Sandy, course superintendent and her staff, for having the golf course in “great shape.”
•Dave Shepley birdied the tough par 3, No. 16 hole both days.
•It’s been quite a golf year for Glenn Bertrand. In addition to being ‘B’ Flight champ, he was captain of the Young Guys team which won the annual Ryder Cup competition in June.
•Rick Fifield is playing in the Canadian Senior Men’s Amateur this week at Union, near St. Thomas.
It's a 156-player field, featuring 10 provincial champions. It ends Friday. Good luck Rick!