2022 Tournament Summary
Rubrecht’s Tournament Experience Produces Fifth Championship
Robin Rubrecht closed his round on Sunday with three birdies on his last four holes to claim his fifth D-Patrick Ford Lincoln Evansville Senior City Golf Championship.
After arriving home late Friday night from a senior golf tournament in South Carolina, Robin cruised to a two under par 69 Saturday morning in the first round of the Senior City to lead the field by 2 strokes. Keith Bratton was the only other golfer to match par at 71 while Dirk Brinker, Dave Turpin and Brent Porter were in contention at one over par 72. Joe Hahn, who shot his age, was next at 73.
With four previous wins in this event and several wins in Golfweek and Society of Seniors national competition, Rubrecht called on his tournament experience to hold off Bratton’s day-long persistence and a late charge by Brinker. “It’s about the preparation and staying in the moment that the experience brings”, he said. “If you can play relaxed, the bad shots don’t affect you so much — regroup and keep grinding”.
Keith closed the gap in Sunday’s second round at Fendrich to one shot with two birdies on the front nine; and, after Robin bogeyed #13, they were tied. Keith then took the lead with a two-putt birdie on #14 at 3 under.
“The key to the tournament was 15 and 16”, Robin said. He drew on his experience. “I am always short on this hole. So, I told myself to stand up there and hit it!” He nearly holed the shot and had a 2-footer for birdie. Keith mishit his approach and left it on the front of the green but after two good putts and a lip-out he made bogey. Robin re-took the lead at -3.
In the mean-time, Dirk Brinker was making a run with three birdies on the back and he rolled in a 30-footer for an eagle on #17 to put him at -2 and within 1 shot of the lead.
Standing on the 16th green Robin and Keith were discussing how much fun it is to have a chance to win this tournament and be playing with friends. Then Robin holed his own 30-footer from above the cup and Keith said “it’s not that much fun anymore”, with a laugh. Keith then missed his 12-foot slider and Rubrecht had a two-shot lead with two to play. Robin added another birdie on 17 after nearly driving the green making the final margin 3 stokes at 5 under par.
“I’m really happy with the way I played”, said Keith. “I have been working the last two years to get my tournament game back, mainly from the mental side. This weekend it finally showed up, but I just got beat. Robin deserved to win”.
“The fact that Keith was playing well really kept me focused and grinding”, Robin said. “I think my tournament experience prevailed down the stretch. The two nine irons I hit on 15 and 16 were probably the best I’ve hit all year. I was just lagging the putt on 16 and it went in, I was lucky”.
Robin also commented on the condition of both courses. “I would like to commend the Superintendents and their staffs for the conditions of the two courses. They were really, really good especially considering the budgetary restrictions they are under. It’s the best they have been in years.”
The Frances Flemming flight winner was Dirk Brinker with a closing 67 and 139, 2-under par, total. Jeff Ralston finished second at 143 and Ron Nelson third at 144. Both shot 69 for the day.
Keith Bratton prevailed in the Billie Martin flight shooting 68 on Sunday for a 139 total over Dave Turpin and Troy Schreiber who shot even par for the two days at 141. Troy shot 66 in the second round winning medalist honors for the field after a near tragic experience on Saturday — sprinting to save a golf cart from rolling into the lake on #6 at Helfrich. “I thought I would be sore today, but I don’t hurt anywhere”, he said.
In the Bob Hamilton flight Drexel Brothers shot 69 to finish with a 144 total and the win over Paul Kohlman at 148. Brad Gray was third at 153.
Neal Boughton won the Richie Moore flight matching par 70 on Sunday for a 144 total. John Baburnich finished second at 150 and Steve Wassmer and Steve Vandiver tied for third with 151 totals.
The Ed Wolf flight was won by Tony Hill who shot 1-under par both days for a 139 total besting Joe Hahn (143) by four shots. Both players shot their age both days. Dave Bates finished third at 147.
Don Shull won his 8th flight championship in the Don Partridge flight with a 149 total – one shot better than Larry Swallows at 150. Mike Hurt finished third with a 153.