PLYMOUTH – Several times, Lee Skillin and Jim Gorski have played well enough to qualify for the championship flight at the Canasawacta Country Club Men’s Member-Guest Tournament. Thursday morning, the Norwich High School graduates put it all together for one round.
Shooting an opening-round 6-under-par 64, Skillin and Gorski hold a one-stroke lead over defending champions Bob and Michael Branham. It was easily the best round in Skillin-Gorski’s long partnership, who finished in the top-five at last year’s tournament.
“I’ve never started this fast in this tournament – ever,” Gorski said Thursday afternoon.
While Gorski was steady throughout the round, Skillin was red-hot, particularly on the back nine. At level par after six holes, Skillin kick-started his team making five birdies on the back nine leading his team to a 30. One more birdie came over the final three holes.
“Overall, this is the best I’ve hit the ball consistently in a while – if not ever,” Skillin said, who was one-half of the winning member-guest championship team at Bluestone Golf Club last month.
“It’s all about confidence, and Lee has much more confidence now,” Gorski said. “Being a member here a lot of years, I know how the greens break and I can help him out a little bit.”
Nine teams broke par in the opening round including previous champions Doug Wilson-Joe Gutosky (67), Mark DeMellier-George Gelsomin (68), and Tim Mirabito-Kenny Stewart (69). Also shooting under-par were Bryan Smith-Todd Seiler (67), Tom Ryan-Justin Ryan (68), Josh Morris-Bryan Boyer (69), and Tim Carson-Scott Seiler (69).
The top-eight teams after two rounds of play qualify for the Masters (championship) flight. The remaining 92 teams will be grouped into eight more flights. The complete tournament roundup will appear in Monday’s Evening Sun.
First-Round scoring
(top-20 teams out of 100 plus ties)
L. Skillin-Gorski 64
Branham-Branham 65
B. Smith-T. Seiler 67
Wilson-Gutosky 67
T. Ryan-J. Ryan 68
DeMellier-Gelsomin 68
T. Mirabito-Stewart 69
