KINGSTON, Massachusetts — Joanne Catlin and John Catlin, of Oak Hill Country Club, took home the Mother Son overall and senior division titles by shooting 1-over 73.
Sue Curtin (Boston Golf Club) and her son James Curtin (Norfolk Golf Club) won a division title for the 11th consecutive year, solidifying their legacy among the best duos to play in this event.
In their final year playing in the Junior Division (sons ages 18 and younger), the Curtins shot 5-over 77 at Indian Pond Country Club for a six-stroke margin over the field.
A total of 87 players competed in this year’s Mother Son Modified Scotch. Entries were open to mothers and grandmothers, as well as sons and grandsons. In modified scotch, both golfers hit a tee shot, select which drive to play, and then alternate shots until the hole is complete.
The event featured Gross and Net scores, using 60% of lower handicap plus 40% of higher handicap for team handicap.
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Joanne Catlin and John Catlin secured the top of the gross division with a score of 1-over par 73.
“The course was great, and it is always great when you win,” Joanne Catlin said. “It was in terrific condition for all of the rain we have had. The greens were good but tricky. You really had to keep it in the fairway here.”
John beamed about how his mother was in the short grass consistently, making it easy for them to decide on their second shots.
On hole 15, Joanne had a great drive off the tee, but John had to take a drop, which rolled into a divot. Unshaken, he hit his shot out of the divot and straight into the cup for an eagle.
That ended up being the difference maker as the Catlins edged out Robyn St Clair (Woodland Golf Club) and Brett St Clair (George Wright Golf Course) by two strokes.
“I look forward to this event the most throughout the whole year,” John said. “It’s an event we will always enjoy together moving forward.”
Justin Handerhan (Segregansett Country Club) and Lori Handerhan (Acushnet River Valley Golf Course) won the Net Division with a 5-under 67, edging Tim Golding (Granite Links Golf Club) and Jenny Golding (Barnstable Golf) in a tiebreaker. Birdies on holes 7 and 15, both par-3s, converted to net eagles for the Handerhan tandem.
For an 11th straight year, no other tandems came close to catching the Curtins. The dynamic duo finished with a score of 5-over 77, dominating the field once again.
“It’s pretty incredible. I think we entered today’s event a little bit with some lower expectations because this was James’ first 18 hole round of the summer,” Sue said of James, who works on the grounds crew at Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course in Brookline.
“I feel like he really carried me today…he was just striping the ball, and it was really fun to watch, and I’m really proud of the composure he had,” she added. “We had a big number on the par-5 on the front side and we got into a little bit of a mess on number 8. Timmy (Adams) and his mom Deborah (O’Kelly) came out of the gates like they were really coming after us today, they played exceptionally.”
James gave his thoughts on what it meant to him today to play this tournament with his mom.
“It’s really special, just knowing that I’ll get to play this every year with her,” he said. “Being able to compete and to actually win it feels great. We’re going to have to step up our games to meet the field next year since we’re going to move up a division.”
Nathan Blanchard (Country Club of Greenfield) and Wendy Blanchard (Country Club of Greenfield) secured the net division with a score of 4-under.
Colin McGuire (Foxborough Country Club), Executive Director of the Ouimet Fund, and his mother Nancy McGuire (Crosswinds Golf Club) are no strangers to this field as well. “Playing in this tournament is Colin’s Mother’s Day gift to me every year,” Nancy said.
“Some of the best memories of my mom on the golf course were when I was learning the game, and the family is out celebrating some great shots,” added Colin. “This tournament is an annual Mother’s Day gift tradition where I let her know we have a special date on the calendar later in the summer at a new, fun golf course. Spending the day together is what is memorable and really, why we play golf.”
The remaining Mass Golf Mixed Team & Parent Child events will take place throughout the next two months. On August 7 and 8, the Father Son Modified Scotch will take place at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick. Thorny Lea Golf Club in Rehoboth will host the Father-Daughter Modified Scotch on August 21. The Sheeran Modified Scotch is set for September 26 at Salem Country Club.
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