BREWSTER, Massachusetts – Kevin Carey and Joe Walker, of Dennis Pines Golf Course, are far from just local legends. They’re still one of the most formidable amateur golf teammates in Massachusetts. These public golf stalwarts compliment each other’s games and are largely steady under the pressure, even when facing some of the state’s best players and past champions over the age of 55.
All afternoon Tuesday at Captains Golf Course, a flurry of teams, including Walker and Carey, were chasing what seemed like an easily-surpassable mark of 7-under total turned in by two teams in the morning. But the Senior Four-Ball Championship has a strange away of making unexpected come to life. Despite many opportunities to get to 8-under, nobody could do it.
Therefore, Walker and Carey were back in a playoff, where they both came up short in 2017. This time they would prevail as Carey made birdie on the first playoff hole, and Walker got up-an-down with a brilliant chip on the second and final playoff hole, giving these super seniors enough to win the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship title again since their previous 2019 victory at Willowband.
They also became the first team to win both the individual title and the Super Senior Division (ages 65 and over) since John and Carter Fasick in 2018.
“We kept it on the Cape,” said Carey after the victory. “This place was awesome. These are the best public greens we’ve putted on all year. The guys in the field were happy. We had two great days. It was a little cool, but it’s always fun to win.”
“There’s a new crop of 55 year olds coming up each year,” added Walker, “but you keep battling and you’re surprised you’re still able to come out on top.”
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🏆 Senior Four-Ball Champions (again) 🏆
Kevin Carey and Joe Walker prevail in a two-hole playoff at Captains GC to win the #MassSeniorFourBall title for the second time in four years. #MassGolf pic.twitter.com/ZalhT1c0SU
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) May 24, 2023
Kevin Carey and Joe Walker both had opportunities to put it away sooner. A small crowd gathered by the 18th green of the Port Course as they each had one final chance to make a birdie and end it in regulation.
There was a collective groan from spectators when Carey missed his 6-foot birdie bid that was the team’s last shot at avoiding a playoff. But it wasn’t from the three teams that had new life, including defending champions Todd Ezold and Mike Trombley, of Twin Hills Country Club; 2021 champions Keith Smith (Franklin Country Club) and Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea Golf Club); and Brian O’Hanley & Dom Petruzzelli, of Thomson Country Club.
Frank Vana (Marlborough Country Club) and Jack Kearney (Westover Golf Course) shot the tournament-low round of 7-under 65 on Tuesday morning to earn a share of first but were unable to return for the playoff.
With the playoff split into two foursomes, Walker and Carey were up first with O’Hanley & Petruzzelli on Port Course No. 10. Carey got a shot at redemption as he had a similar-length putt above the hole and downhill for birdie. The tall lefty got a good read and hit it right on line into the bottom of the cup.
“He’s very good at downhill putts, and I had every confidence in him, and he buried it,” Walker said of Carey.
This put the pressure on Petruzzelli, who last summer played in a 9-hole playoff for an alternate spot in the U.S. Senior Amateur at Captains GC. With about 6-feet back up the hill, the cigar chomping righty confidently stroked his putt and it fell, putting the pressure on the other two teams to make birdie to stay alive.
“I didn’t think much about it but knew I had to make it,” Petruzzelli said.
“I never played golf with the guy with him, but I saw his practice stroke and said ‘he ain’t missing,'” added Carey.
Petruzzelli and O’Hanley almost didn’t make it into the playoff. After a bogey on the 16th they sat at 6-under and needed to make something happen on the final two holes on the Starboard Course. O’Hanley delivered on the par-3 17th, hitting his tee shot to 3 feet above the hole and knocking down the birdie part to get them back into contention.
“I probably missed eight eight-footers in a row for birdie, so we were hoping we wouldn’t even have to go to a playoff, but that’s golf,” Petruzzelli said.
Ezold’s second shot missed the green, and after Trombley’s long putt from the back of the green just checked up short, both were eliminated. Tasho and Smith both had birdie chances from above the hole, but neither could execute.
On the par-3 11th, none of the four remaining players hit the green. But Walker came closest, hitting a hybrid off the left rough hump that almost kicked onto the green. No matter, as he hit a nice bump and run that almost went straight into the hole. Instead he tapped in for par.
“I just clean up the garbage,” Walker said with a chuckle. “Par’s a good number, I don’t mind being in there.”
Petruzzelli hit into a greenside bunker, and O’Hanley missed short left. When neither could make their par putts, Walker and Carey initially went for a handshake but shared a quick hug to celebrate their achievement and adding to an extensive trophy case. Carey also won this event with Ray Richard in 2011 and 2012, winning a title together and sweeping the Super Senior Division makes it all the more special.
“The Fasicks [John & Carter] did it, and now we’ve done it,” Walker said. “I thought we were done, but we’re still hanging around and playing.”
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