PLYMOUTH – Bob Branham didn’t have the type of start he was expecting in the first round of the Chenango County Amateur Golf Tournament, but he finished in typically strong fashion.
Branham, playing his first Amateur since the tournament’s revival two years ago, coasted to a five-shot win over 2011 champion Eric Walling Sunday at Canasawacta Country Club. Branham also earned the daily double taking the men’s senior scratch division outdistancing runner-up Mark DeMellier.
Rick Ferris shot a net 15-under-par over the two-day event to win the men’s handicap division, while 14-year-old Brenon Maynard repeated as the junior champion.
Playing the first round at Afton Golf Club, the dry conditions and favorable course set-up lent itself to some low scores. Branham, though, bogeyed three of the opening four holes. He three-putted the opening green, and failed to get up-and-down on the third and fourth holes. “I think it was partly nerves,” Branham said of his slow start. “I’ve played for years and won before, but the nerves do not go away, and I hope they never do. I just kept my patience, battled back, and things evened out.”
Branham birdied the fifth and seventh holes to finish out the front nine at Afton at one-over-par, and he had an unblemished back nine spotlighted by birdies on 11 and 18 to finish with a one-under-par 71.
Tied for the men’s scratch lead was Afton Golf Club members Bryan Evans and Dave Riley. Evans, his home club’s 2011 men’s scratch champion, used a deft short game and strong putting en route to his 71, while Riley, competing in the men’s senior scratch division, had three birdies and just two bogeys to shoot his one-under-par score.
Branham came out firing in his second round with three birdies in his first seven holes at CCC, while partners Evans and Riley struggled. Buoyed by the quick start, Branham cruised to a 2-under-par 69, and a three-under-par aggregate. Walling was solid in his second round firing a 1-under-par 70, his best score in his three years competing in the Amateur. “I was very pleased with today,” Branham said. “My game hasn’t changed much from tee to green, but the hole seems to shrink each year, and that’s the challenge. I played superbly on the front nine today, and just coasted from there.”
Ferris tied his lowest career round shooting an even-par 72 in the first round at Afton G.C. highlighted by an eagle on the par-four 12th hole. Ferris drained his wedge on an 80-yard downhill shot to give his round more momentum.
The 13-handicap was steady in Sunday’s round, too, staying out of trouble to card a gross 80 (net 67). “My putting was good and my iron play was solid the whole weekend,” Ferris said. “I felt like it was the best I’ve struck the ball in a year. I just tried to get it in the hole and limit my mistakes. Those were the keys.”
Maynard, who is finishing up his eighth-grade year at Unadilla Valley, shot a spectacular 1-under-par 71 Saturday at Afton. He had four birdies during his round including three on the back nine when he shot a 2-under-par 34. More impressive, it was Maynard’s first-ever round at Afton Golf Club.
Tournament Scoring
(First round, Afton G.C., par-72; second round, Canasawacta C.C., par-71)
Men’s Scratch
Bob Branham 71-69-140
Eric Walling 75-70–145
Patrick Newell 78-73–151
Mark DeMellier 76-76–152
Edd Jenkins 74-84-158
Bryan Evans 71-90-161
Sal Testani 76-85-161
Jim Wysor 78-83-161
Senior Men’s Scratch
Bob Branham 71-69-140
Mark DeMellier 76-76-152
Rick Ferris 72-80-152
Tom McCarthy 73-79-152
Hal Skillin 77-80-157
Edd Jenkins 74-84-158
Dave Riley 71-89-160
Steve Upton 82-79-161
Jim Wysor 78-83-161
Col Fraser 78-84-162
Wayne Emmons 80-83-163
Joe McBride 76-86-164
Men’s Handicap (Net Scores)
Rick Ferris 61-67-128
Tom McCarthy 65-70-135
Hal Skillin 68-70-138
Cliff Tamsett 68-73-141
Sal Testani 67-75-142
Jim johnson 71-72-143
Wayne Emmons 73-75-148
Joe McBride 69-79-148
Col Fraser 72-77-149
Lou Guzzetta 77-75-152
Ernie Muserallo 76-76-152
Mark McLaughlin73-81-254
Juniors Scratch (17-and-under)
Brenon Maynard 71-80-151
Ryan Johnson 77-89-166