Rubrecht dominates in winning 2014 Senior City golf title

Robin Rubrecht built a massive lead during the second round of the Romain Buick Senior City Golf Championship on Sunday at Fendrich. But rather than rest on that cushion, Rubrecht kept playing the same style that gave him that advantage in the first place. “I played aggressive, kept it in play, hit a lot of greens and made some putts today,” said Rubrecht, who fired a 3-under 67 to finish with a 5-under two-day total of 136. “I just, overall, never backed up.” Rubrecht, 60, claimed his second Senior City title, with the other coming in 2010. “It feels good anytime you win a tournament,” he said. “This one’s special because you’re playing with your peers. ”The Newburgh resident won by seven strokes and was the only golfer to shoot below par on either day of the tournament. Saturday’s first round was held at Helfrich Golf Course, a par-71 layout. “I knew when he got to red numbers he wasn’t going to back up,” said Bryan Compton, who finished in a fourway tie for second with a two-round 143. “We’d have to get to red numbers to catch him, and I don’t know if my game’s that strong in a tournament. He’s a good player.” Rubrecht recorded four birdies — on holes five, seven, 11 and 16 — and didn’t card a bogey until the 18th. Knowing the victory was well in hand, Rubrecht walked across the green and embraced his wife, Connie, who doubled as his caddie. “Just about all my tournaments, she’s caddied for me,” Rubrecht said. “She doesn’t pick my clubs for me, she doesn’t read putts, but she’s very calming. It’s nice to have somebody pulling for you and keeping you calm.” Rubrecht and others took advantage of the “preferred lies through the green” rule, which was instituted to combat poor course conditions due to the harsh winter. Golfers were allowed to move the ball up to one club length, but not closer to the hole, to improve their lies. “When you can put your hand on the ball, you can be more aggressive,” he said. “I hit (a drive) on nine that took a nasty kick and went over by a tree. I got to move it a club length, chipped it out and made a par.” Greg Glisson, Tom Haines and Dave Bates tied Compton at 143 strokes for second place. Because Compton, Haines and Bates were all tied at the top of the age 60-64 flight behind Rubrecht — who wasn’t eligible for the flight victory due to his overall win — they played a sudden-death playoff to determine the age-group winner. Each golfer recorded par on the 10th hole before Compton won it with a birdie on the par-3 11th. He said he hit an 8-iron three feet from the hole and made the putt. “I drove the ball well, never got in any trouble off the tee, actually,” Compton said of his round. “The short game and the putting wasn’t there, but I managed to get it done at the end, which is really all you have to do.” Flight Champions: 50-54 Drexel Brothers 73-73-146 55-59 Greg Glisson 73-70-143 60-64 Bryan Compton 72-71-143 65-69 Tony Hill 75-73-148 70+ Steve Pritchett 76-72-148