Branham, Spittler add to record number of championship wins

PLYMOUTH – Bob Branham’s golf game is aging gracefully.

Branham, 58, won his record 22nd Canasawacta Country Club men’s scratch championship late Sunday afternoon finishing the 54-hole event at 1-under-par overall. Branham was 10 shots clear of runner-up Bryan Smith, who was this year’s defending champion. Smith dug a big hole after his opening round, but playing virtually even with Branham over the grueling 36 holes Sunday.

“The nice thing (about the final round) was that I was paired with Bryan and Lee (Skillin), who won the club championship two of the previous three years,” Branham said.

Returning to the top spot in the women’s division was Amy Spittler, who won her record 15th women’s scratch title taking a two-shot victory over Patty Cwynar. Two-time defending women’s champion, Casey Marson, placed third.

Young Alex Gage perhaps set the stage for a long and distinguished golfing career. Gage, just 11 years old and entering the seventh grade at Norwich Middle School, won the men’s handicap division with a net 10-under-par. Gage, playing to an 18 handicap, had scratch rounds of 83 and 85 (net 10-under-par) to become the course’s youngest-ever club champion.

Doug Wilson repeated as men’s senior scratch champion shooting a gross three-over-par for 36 holes, five shots better than his winning score from last. Colin Fraser won a two-hole playoff over Rick Ferris to take the senior men’s handicap title, while Dianne Lewis rounded out the champions taking the women’s handicap division. Lewis shot a net 60 in her opening round en route to a seven-stroke victory.

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Branham, meanwhile, entered the final round buoyed by a nine-shot cushion. He didn’t allow himself to reflect on that lead until the final holes. “People have asked me many times before a final round if I am thinking of a number to shoot,” Branham said. “Really, my first thought is to find the first fairway, and go from there. You can’t think about how many shots you have in hand because there is too much golf to play.”

After one-under-par 70s in his first and second rounds, Branham had birdies on the second, fifth, and tenth holes to extend his lead in the final 18. He made a curling, treacherous birdie on the par-three 14th hole to cement his advantage.

“It’s different with the pros, but par is always a good score, and I remind myself of that,” Branham said.

Men’s Scratch Division

(Top nine scores after 36 holes qualified for final 18 holes)

Bob Branham 70-70-72-212

Bryan Smith 79-70-73-222

Lee Skillin 72-77-80-229

Tom Ryan 79-80-70-229

Pat Newell 78-74-78-230

Corey Johnson 79-78-78-235

Edd Jenkins 78-76-81-235

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Nick Brunick 79-80-77-236