Independent Tournaments

Down three shots at the turn, Dave Oates rallied with some superior ball-striking on the back nine to win his second Chippewa Championship on Sunday.

Oates struggled a bit on the front, making double bogey six on the par-4 seventh to finish the front at 37. First round leader Allen Freeman turned at even par for the nine and the tournament, but after that the day belonged to Oates.

Even with the typical Chippewa “Sunday scramble pins”, Oates produced tight second shots at 11, 13, 14, 16 and 17 to seal the win, his second victory in the event. In addition to the trophy and gift certificates, Oates earns a year’s membership at Chippewa, a huge prize considering the Monday Scratch League.

Freeman and Chris Okeson tied for second place, while Mike Kracker finished alone in fourth one back after firing the low round of Sunday, a sterling 71.

Six skins worth $700 each were won on the weekend, with Freeman nabbing two of them for the biggest payout of the weekend. Ken Koprivec earned one of the skins by making a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth hole on Sunday.

As always, kudos to Kevin Larizza, Brad Stewart, Dan, Don and Eric for a professionally-run event (although Kevin, please take it easy on us with the pin locations on holes 14 and 15 for 2010!)

Complete results below, including skins.

FINAL RESULTS, 2009 CHIPPEWA CHAMPIONSHIP
Chippewa Golf Club, Doylestown – August 22-23

Oates, Dave    72 – 75 = 147
Freeman, Allen    71 – 79 = 150
Okeson, Chris    74 – 76 = 150
Kracker, Mike    80 – 71 = 151
Heran, Scott    77 – 75 = 152
Simpson, Mike    75 – 78 = 153
Yacovazzi, Anthony    77 – 76 = 153
McBride, Tom    77 – 76 = 153    

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Allen Freeman of Brecksville made a chip-in eagle 3 on the par-5 tenth that ended up as the only skin of the day, and that helped him to a one shot lead after the first round of the Chippewa Championship on Saturday.

Freeman finished with an even par 71, putting him up by a single shot over past champion and perennial contender Dave Oates. Dave Trier and Chris Okeson are tied for third at 74.

First round scores follow. Starting times for Sunday’s final round will be posted here.

FIRST ROUND SCORES: 2009 CHIPPEWA CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, August 22, Chippewa Golf Club, Doylestown – Par 71

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Final results from the 2009 Summit County Senior Amateur Championship, played Friday, August 7th at Barberton Brookside Golf Course and Saturday, August 8th at Good Park Golf Course in Akron:

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With Anthony Yacovazzi about 15 feet closer and looking for his third birdie in five holes, and with the lead down to just two shots, Aaron Crewse of Uniontown could have felt a little pressure. His 5-wood to the 219-yard par-3 tournament finishing hole at Good Park was off the front of the green, and he was staring at an uphill 48-foot putt to try to hang on to the 2009 Summit County Amateur Championship.

But using the same “sight it and hit it” tempo that had served Crewse well for 35 holes, he read the putt, stepped up and calmly rapped it up the slope and into the hole, much to the delight of the crowd that filled Good Park’s “stands”.

The unlikely “downtown” birdie at the finish allowed Crewse to close the day at 2-under par 69, good for a 5-under par total of 137, a three shot victory and his first Summit County Am win. But to Crewse, the final putt was not the key to victory.

“The key to the round for me was the up-and-downs I made for par on my first nine,” said the 37-year old Crewse. “I made a par save on my first hole from about 12 feet, another good save on my second hole from about 6 feet, and a big up and down from about 20 feet on my seventh hole on the front nine. Those saves kept the feeling going for me, which helped me focus on what I was doing instead of worry about anyone else.”

Plain Dealer story here. Akron Beacon Journal story here; photo gallery here. Complete results follow…

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