It took awhile, but the pairing of Mike Occi-Ben Clements, from Hobbit’s Glen GC in Columbia, finally collected what had been one of the last area Senior Four-Ball championships not in their respective trophy collections.
They shot 66 in a weather-interrupted (45-minute lightning delay) round at Holly Hills CC in the 20th Annual Senior Four-Ball tournament sponsored and conducted by the Maryland State Golf Association. Occi birdied holes 2 and 9, as the team turned 2-under, and Occi (Holes 11 and 18) and Clements (Holes 14 and 16) combined on the back to wrap up a bogey-free title.
It marked the fourth time Occi and Clements had played as a team in the event and their triumphant 6-under-par 66 was their best score. However, in 2011, with different partners, Occi’s team shot 65, good for second place, and Clements’ team shot 66 to tie for third. Their other titles include the Middle Atlantic and Washington Metropolitan Senior Four-Balls, and they are five-time winners of the Senior Division in the annual Belle Haven Four-Ball.
Bobby Morris-Marty West, who had either won outright (3) or shared (1) the MSGA title four of the past five years, posted 68 and tied for second with Finley Benjamin-Jim Kyttle. Ben Brundred-Bill Murphy finished fourth at 69.
Barry Flaer-George Washburn also had 68 and won the Super Senior crown, while Steve Chapman-Jamie Rhoades won the Senior low net with 63, and Donald Meyer-Mike Panos shared the Super Senior net prize with Bill Matton-Bill Hoffman, 65.
-Reported by John Stewart
