NORWICH – The winning continued for longtime Canasawacta Country Club scratch champions Bob Branham and Amy Spittler Sunday afternoon.
Branham won his 19th overall title pulling away from runner-up Tom Muserilli, while Spittler fired a career-low total to put her 12th championship on ice.
Branham's victory completed a troika of special moments for the Branham family over the last eight days. The previous weekend, Branham and his son Michael captured the 50th Annual Men's Member-Guest Tournament, and Branham's scratch title preceded the induction of his father Bill into the Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame Sunday night.
"I'm pleased with this and it's always a test to walk and carry (your bag) 36 holes the final day," Branham said. "Every year you feel a little more pressure (to keep the winning streak going) and people may think it is ho hum, but it's not."
Muserilli did not flinch throughout the final day, and actually cut Branham's four-shot lead after 18 holes to three shooting an even-par 70 to Branham's 71. It wasn't until the back nine of the final 18 that the champion settled down and padded his lead to a half-dozen shots. "Tommy played exceptionally well, and I don't think I was ever really comfortable until the 11th or 12th hole," Branham said.
Branham's 209 total for 54 holes outdistanced Muserilli by six, while the next closest competitors were 19 strokes behind Branham.
Spittler was never challenged in the women's scratch division shooting 78-79 for her best-ever two-round tournament score. It was good enough for a 20-shot cushion over second-place Dianne Lewis and 13 shots better than her winning total from a year ago. "This was my most consistent tournament," Spittler said. ”I made a lot of the 10- and 12-footers or I was chipping it close and making the putts. My short game was really good, and the new driver helped. It's been a good summer."
Doug Wilson repeated as the men's senior scratch champion topping Joe Loftus by two shots; Brendan Hannan won his second men's handicap division in as many years edging Ted Diorio, and Ryan Cambron won the junior division. Spittler also added the women’s handicap championship to her list of titles.
In addition to his club championship, Wilson was part of the 2008 Hall of Fame induction class along with Bill Branham, Mark DeMellier, Dr. Tom Flanagan, “Honk” Mirabito, and Bob Palmer.
Tournament Scoring
Scratch Men’s
B. Branham 69-71-69-209
T. Muserilli 73-70-72-215
J. Mancini 75-81-72-228
T. Mirabito 72-76-80-228
D. Wilson 75-77-77–229
J. Kelly 77-78-76-231
S. Hughes 79-78-75-232
Men’s Handicap
(handicap listed, net score)
Br. Hannan (19) 66-67-133
T. Diorio (8) 70-68-138
T. Handy (26) 70-69-139
S. Gage (22) 63-76-139
M. Matott (17) 74-66-140
Senior Men’s scratch
D. Wilson 75-77-152
J. Loftus 78-76-154
D. Cottle 81-75-156
J. Mancini 75-81-156
S. Hughes 79-78-157
Women’s Scratch
A. Spittler 78-79-157
D. Lewis 89-88-177
K. Thomison 96-94-190
Women’s handicap
(Net scores)
A. Spittler 67-68-135
J. Cass 67-70-137
S. Williams 74-66-140
E. Cleveland 70-73-143