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Quebec golfers sweep top spots

LAKE PLACID – Sunday’s final round of the annual Craig Wood-Ray Randall golf tournament had a little bit of everything on a windy afternoon

There were difficult conditions. Leads flip-flopped throughout the day. There was challenging golf, especially when it came to putting. There was a playoff. And in the end, there were two come-from-behind champions who are no strangers to winning titles in the historic tournament, which was hosted for the 56th time at the course operated by the North Elba Park District.

Both winners were long-time competitors in the tourney from Quebec. Greg Wilson won the Craig Wood Division in a playoff battle with last year’s champion, Heath Latour, and Mickey Batten captured another Ray Randall senior division title.

Latour, also from Quebec, grabbed the first-round lead after firing an even-under par 71 Saturday, and was playing the final round in the last foursome on the course with three Lake Placid golfers – Don Mortensen and Nick Politi, who were tied for second after opening with 73s, and Willis Clark, who shot a 75 on the first day.

On Sunday, Politi and Clark both slipped off the pace, leaving Latour and Mortensen to battle it out for the top spot. Playing the second round in much tougher conditions due to the wind, Latour came in with an 80 to finish with a 151 total to finish a shot ahead of Mortensen, who had claimed a handful of runner-up and third-place finishes in the past.

Meanwhile, Wilson was already in the clubhouse, also with a 151 after rounds of 78 and a Sunday-low score of 73, which ultimately landed him in a first-place tie with Latour and sent the pair back to the course for a playoff to decide the champion. They played the par-5 ninth, which Wilson won with a par after Latour came in with a bogey.

The win was the fifth at Craig Wood for Wilson, who erased a nine-shot first round deficit and has been playing hurt all summer while turning up for a international tournament in Charleston, South Carolina later this month.

“I’ve been struggling this year with some injuries,” said Wilson, who was playing with a brace on his right arm. “I’ve always had a sore back, but today every time I’d bend down to look at a putt, when I got back up I’d say ‘ohh, I’ve got to take a break,’ and I need surgery on my elbow. It’s been a tough year and I’m working on a new swing to try to alleviate the pain.

“That’s really the reason I came down here this year – to work on this this new swing,” Wilson continued. “I have a big tournament in three weeks and I want to just hone this swing, make it work for me so I can play this international event. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I hear the Americans treat us really well, but they want to win. It’s a new level for me.

“I hit the ball very well this weekend. I wasn’t over-swinging. Good contact is all you want. This is number five for me at Craig Wood, and it was an unexpected one.”

Although Latour, a resident of Kahnawake, Quebec, was unable to successfully defend his title, he was still happy after the tournament.

“I don’t mind losing to Greg. He’s a great guy, he’s a great golfer,” Latour said. “I had no idea what the guys ahead of us were doing. As far as I was concerned, Donny and I were shooting it out but obviously, someone could have come in before us with a good score. With the wind, I was playing all over the place. It wasn’t easy. I could have played better.”

Again in contention for a title he was really wanted, Mortensen finished with rounds of 73 and 79 for a 152 total. However, he dropped back to fourth place, finishing one place behind Lake Placid’s Cory Reid, who also fired a 152 total.

“I’ve been second, I’ve been third, and I’ve always wanted to win this,” Mortensen said. “I thought this was going to be my day, but I just couldn’t make putts. I’m 56 years old, and continuing to keep up with these younger guys is tough.

“I didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed at all,” he continued. “I love this town, I love this course, and there’s no place I’d rather be.”

Two familiar foes, who have also become friends over the years, were vying for the senior division crown as Lake Placid’s Larry Barry and Batten played together in Sunday’s next-to-last group who were the Ray Randall division leader after round one. Barry took down Batten in a playoff at the Craig Wood a year ago, but it was Batten’s day this time around, as he won by two shots.

Batten came into the final 18 holes with a six-shot lead after opening with a one-under par 70, but struggled on his first nine Sunday, which allowed Barry to close the gap. Barry, however, struggled on his last nine holes, while Batten stayed the course to finish with an 82 and a winning 152 total.

Rochester’s Tom Haefner placed third with rounds of 76 and 84 and a 160 total, and Lake Placid’s Mark Gilligan was fourth with a 161 total.

When the awards were being handed out after the tournament, Wilson, of Vaudreuil, Quebec, honored Americans affected by the 9-11 terrorist attacks that took place 15 years ago Sunday.

“Since we were playing on the 15th anniversary of 9-11, I dedicate this victory to all the people, family and friends of those affected by 9-11. I feel it’s important to recognize them,” Wilson said.

The Craig Wood-Ray Randall tournament has traditionally been held on the weekend following Labor Day, but next year, that will change due to the new Ironman Lake Placid 70.3 triathlon that is slated for Sept. 10, 2017. In order to accommodate the 50-plus golfers who travel from Kahnawake, and another large contingent from Rochester, each year for the tournament, the event has tentatively been pushed back a week later in September next year.

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