PLYMOUTH – Bob Branham’s golf game is aging gracefully.
Branham, 58, won his record 22nd Canasawacta Country Club men’s scratch championship late Sunday afternoon finishing the 54-hole event at 1-under-par overall. Branham was 10 shots clear of runner-up Bryan Smith, who was this year’s defending champion. Smith dug a big hole after his opening round, but playing virtually even with Branham over the grueling 36 holes Sunday.
“The nice thing (about the final round) was that I was paired with Bryan and Lee (Skillin), who won the club championship two of the previous three years,” Branham said.
Returning to the top spot in the women’s division was Amy Spittler, who won her record 15th women’s scratch title taking a two-shot victory over Patty Cwynar. Two-time defending women’s champion, Casey Marson, placed third.
Young Alex Gage perhaps set the stage for a long and distinguished golfing career. Gage, just 11 years old and entering the seventh grade at Norwich Middle School, won the men’s handicap division with a net 10-under-par. Gage, playing to an 18 handicap, had scratch rounds of 83 and 85 (net 10-under-par) to become the course’s youngest-ever club champion.