Pictured are Canasawacta Country Club club champions from this past weekend. From the left are Vinny Jones, men’s senior handicap; Casey Marson, women’s scratch; and Bryan Smith, men’s scratch. Missing was Doug Wilson, senior men’s scratch and Ted Diorio, men's handicap champion.

PLYMOUTH – Bryan Smith made one subtle swing change this season, and it helped him capture his first Canasawacta Country Club men’s scratch title.

Smith finished the 54-hole tournament at 3-over-par to top recent Norwich High School graduate Eric Walling by four strokes, and 21-time men’s champion, Bob Branham, by five.

Casey Marson repeated as women’s scratch title, and Doug Wilson completed the triumvirate of scratch title winners edging Jim Wysor by one stroke for the senior men’s crown.

Ted Diorio (men’s handicap), Vinny Jones (senior men’s handicap), and Marson (women’s handicap) completed the honor roll of champions Sunday.

“Not going left,” was Smith’s description of his swing change. He had his swing videotaped for the first time and took a lesson from CCC head professional Charley Winn. Smith ditched his right-to-left ball flight – that often led to snap-hooks – for a controlled left-to-right fade. “Now when I miss (a shot), it goes right.”

Smith didn’t miss much during the two-day event that wrapped up with 36 holes for the final nine players that made the cut in the men’s scratch division.

After a one-over-par 72 during his morning round, Smith maintained a one-shot advantage over Walling and Diorio. Diorio put himself into the final group with a career-low 68 on Saturday, the lowest scratch score of the tournament, while Branham and Tim Mirabito were a mere two shots in arrears.

Through nine holes, though, Smith was able to extend his lead. With Walling, Diorio, Branham, and Mirabito all failing to break 40 on the front nine, Smith’s 2-over-par 38 raised his lead to four strokes over Walling, Diorio, and Branham.

Smith’s tap-in birdie on the par-five 10th hole elevated the lead another stroke, and he led by at least four strokes the rest of the way. Following a bogey on 12, Smith bounced right back with a birdie on 13. He had routine pars on 14, 15, and 16 leaving no hope for his challengers.

“It was mostly about keeping it together and trying to make it easy for yourself,” Smith said describing his round. “(My thinking) was fairways, greens, and two-putting.”

Marson had rounds of 80 and 81 to easily repeat as champion, and she earned the daily double capturing the handicap division by a single stroke over Krista Porter.

Diorio’s spectacular opening round resulted in a net 59, and his 16-under-par tournament total gave him a 10-shot spread over Jones. Jones, meanwhile, topped the senior handicap class beating Jim Wysor by three.

Wysor was also just a shot shy of men’s scratch winner Doug Wilson, who was tied for third a season ago.

Scoring

(par-71 at CCC)

Men’s Scratch (top five)

Bryan Smith 71-72-73-216

Eric Walling 72-72-76-220

Bob Branham 73-72-76-221

Tim Mirabito 74-71-77-222