NORTH NORWICH – The beat goes on for the two most prolific winners in Canasawacta Country Club’s 87-year history.
Bob Branham and Amy Spittler defended their scratch championships adding to their record win totals Sunday afternoon. Doug Wilson (senior men’s scratch), Brendan Hannan (men’s handicap), and Sue Williams (women’s handicap) also picked up titles.
Branham surged after a first-round 74 improving by three strokes on each of his next two rounds. His solid 2-under-par 68 in the final round erased a two-stroke deficit after Friday’s opening round, and he rolled to a 14-shot victory over Mark DeMellier. It was Branham’s 18th overall title and fourth straight. “This is a long day for me and it’s a physical and mental test,” Branham said of the 36 holes played Sunday. “I was tight the first two rounds, but I was finally able to relax. You would think as I get older it would get easier, but I put a lot of pressure on myself.”
Branham continued to grind for pars on the back nine of his final round despite a comfortable double-digit lead. He two-putted from a difficult position on the par-three 14th, got up and down from the sand on 15 for a par, and sunk an eight-foot par putt on the par-three 17th after chipping from a sidehill lie off the green 30 yards away.
Spittler, known for her consistency and steady scoring, had an uncharacteristic 89 in the opening round to trail Patty Cwynar by four shots. Cwynar fell back in the second round, while Spittler returned to her invariant scoring style shooting a more typical 81 to outdistance Dianne Lewis by six strokes. Spittler made it five straight scratch titles and 11 overall.
Doug Wilson had the best overall scratch scoring for two rounds finishing with an aggregate 1-over-par 141 after rounds of 70 and 71 to best Doug Cottle by 13 strokes. Wilson, normally a men’s scratch participant, was unable to compete in the 36-hole Sunday finale due to a work conflict.
Hannan played to his handicap shooting net scores of 70 and 71, while Sue Williams had a net 7-over-par 147 to win by two strokes over Joan Porack.
The Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony, scheduled for Sunday night at C.C.C. in conjunction with the club championship dinner, was postponed to a later date, officials said. This year’s inductees are Peter Anderson, I. Richer Mitchell, and John Frederick Benedict.
Scoring
Men’s Scratch
B. Branham 74-71-68-213
M. DeMellier 76-74-77-227
S. Hughes 74-75-79-229
R. Evans 74-82-79-235
Jo. Bennett 80-79-76-235
T. Carson 81-78-78-237
Women’s Scratch
A. Spittler 89-81-170
D. Lewis 93-83-176
