He’s one year removed from a torn rotator cuff and Ken Bazansky wins a championship on the links.
Not too shabby for the seven-year Vic Marion Senior Open veteran player, who won his first title in the tournament on Sunday taking the overall low gross score for the weekend.
“I birdied [hole] number 15. I just kept on making pars and was steady. I shot a 74 [on Sunday], that’s one of my best scores this year so I’m pretty happy,” said Bazansky.
The Rupertite shot a 77 on his first day for a 36-hole total of 151 and it came down to the final few holes for Bazansky to wedge his way into first place.
After tearing his left rotator cuff last year, and not playing a single round of golf last summer while he was recovering for nine months, Bazansky has made up for it this year.
“This is probably my 30th round [this year],” he said.
Richard Wright, who was leading after Saturday’s round, ran into some difficulty, shooting an eight, nine and nine on holes nine, 10 and 11 respectively, while Brian Holkestad, last year’s champ, was hurting on the 16th hole.
“I just kept hitting the ball straight and they got themselves into trouble and what can you do,” said Bazansky.
Gamesmanship aside, the three golfers all played together and it made for a fun outing, said the winner.
“We’re all good buddies. It’s nice to play with people that you’re comfortable with and you can enjoy yourself. Nobody gets mad, you can talk with everybody; it makes a big difference,” said Bazansky.
Teru Yamamoto took the tournament’s overall low net score, shooting 131 with a 15-handicap in the First Flight, while Rose Holkestad took the tournament’s senior women’s title, her second straight, and second-overall, shooting a low-gross score of 180 with Selma Standring, a 28-handicap, taking the senior women’s overall low net title, shooting 148.
“It was a little windy at times,” said Bazansky.
“It swirls. Our course is like the [PGA’s] Masters. The wind swirls all over the place and you’ve just got to wait for it and take your shot when you think you’re ready for it. Today I was lucky.”
As for his prize, Bazansky figured he’d go with something practical and something that will help his shoulder along on to 100 per cent health.
“Probably a golf cart. My old golf cart is getting pretty ratty. It’s something I need. I don’t go for the most expensive prize I go for something I can use,” he said.
Howard Linn shot the First Flight’s low gross title, carding a 175 with Eric Hand, a 19-handicap, shooting a 141 low net total.
The Second Flight saw Don McMillan capture the second low gross title as he carded a 182 and Byron Gordon, a 28-handicap, shot 140 for the Second Flight’s lowest net score.
