A total of 120 golfers tee it up last Wednesday at St. Marys G&CC 

Story by Pat Payton | St.Marys Independent Newspaper

The putter got hot at the right time for Rick Fifield last Wednesday at St. Marys Golf and Country Club.

Fifield fired a two-under-par 70 to claim a one-shot victory in the annual Senior Men’s Invitational. A total of 120 golfers competed in five different age groups.

“I made a lot of putts,” Fifield said after receiving the championship plaque from Director of Golf Operations Brandon De Groote.

“Probably the key was, I made about three five or six footers for par, which really kept the momentum going. I’ve really been struggling with my putter, especially from that length, so it was nice to see those ones go in. Overall, I had a lot of good birdie chances, so I didn’t have to work very hard.”

Competing in the 65 to 69 age group, Fifield had splits of 33 and 37. He collected birdies on No. 4, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 17.

Chris Webb, of London Thames Valley, finished second overall with a one-under 71 (37-34). He competed in the 50 to 59 age group.

The day’s third best score belonged to another St. Marys member, Rich Parsons. He came in with a one-over 73 (36-37). Parsons competed in the 60 to 64 age group.

Tim Zanini had the fourth best score, a 74 (38-36). He finished second to Webb in the 50 to 59 age group.

81-year-old shoots 75

There were four scores of 75 posted last Wednesday, and one was shot by 81-year-old Cliff Brown, of London. He had splits of 35-40. A 12-handicapper, Brown was the overall new winner with a 63 -- one better than Dirk DeVries.

“Cliff’s a legend,” quipped Fifield, who remembers battling Brown in a Senior playoff several years ago. “We had a good playoff, that was fun.”

Another player who shot 75 (39-36) was St. Marys member Jamie Hodgins. He competed in the 50 to 59 division. St. Marys member Bruce Kraemer had the second-best low net score (70) in 50 to 59.

Other Age Group Winners

Rich Parsons’ 73 gave him first place in the 60 to 64 age group, two shots better than John Malcolm.

St. Marys members took the top four spots in the 65 to 69 age group. Jimmy Craigmile (42-35-77) was first, Eric Henkemans (37-41-78) second, Brian Hughes (40-39-79) third, and Bob Mills (39-43-82) fourth.

In the 70 to 74 age group, Willy Keller, of Stratford, was first with an 83 (41-42) due to retrogression. William Houilston, Don Wright and St. Marys member Greg Thompson also shot 83s.

Individual prizes

• Closest to the pin on No. 2 was Jay Lounsbury.
• Closest to the pin on No. 5 was Wayne Ross.
• Closest to the pin on No. 7 was Rick Fifield.
• Closest to the pin on No. 16 was Brian Hughes.
• Closest to the pin on No. 18 was Clayton Bilyea, who had a hole-in-one. The Londoner says he now has seven or eight aces.