Mike Burdsall entered Sunday seven shots behind first-round leader Cayden Troup, but a steady 1-over 72 was enough to turn the largest deficit among the three contenders into a one-shot victory at the Silver Creek Club Championship.
Burdsall finished the 36-hole men’s championship at 5-over 147, earning his 10th club championship at Silver Creek. Troup, who opened with a 3-under 68 on Saturday, and Skoot Stein finished tied for second at 6-over 148.
The final round turned less on one spectacular stretch from Burdsall than on the contrast between his ability to stay around par and Troup’s difficulty avoiding mistakes.
Burdsall played the front nine Sunday in 1 over, while Troup made the turn at 3 over. That trimmed Troup’s seven-shot overnight advantage to five with nine holes remaining. Stein, who began the day five behind after an opening 73, also remained in the mix after playing the front in 2 over.
The biggest swing came on the back nine.
Burdsall played Silver Creek’s par-36 closing side in even par, while Troup played it in 6 over. Burdsall was particularly steady over the final six holes, playing that stretch 1 under, while Troup played the same stretch 3 over.
Troup had already given one shot back with a bogey at the par-4 10th before a double bogey at the par-3 12th accelerated the change at the top of the leaderboard. He remained in position to recover, but bogeys at Nos. 15, 16 and 17 ultimately proved costly.
Burdsall, meanwhile, kept the damage off his card. After playing the opening three holes of the back nine 1 over, he played the final six in 1 under to get back to even par for the side. His 72 was the low round among the three players fighting for the title Sunday and eight shots better than Troup’s 80.
That was enough to reverse the standings completely. Burdsall went from seven behind Troup after Saturday’s round to one ahead of him after 36 holes.
Stein made his own run at the championship. He followed his opening 73 with a 4-over 75 and finished alongside Troup at 148. His two rounds were the most consistent of the three contenders, but Burdsall’s final-round 72 gave him the extra shot he needed.
Troup’s opening 68 remained the low round of the men’s championship. He played Saturday 3 under on the par-71 layout and carried a five-shot advantage over Stein and a seven-shot cushion over Burdsall into the final round. But his closing 80 left the door open for both.
Burdsall finished 75-72, Stein 73-75 and Troup 68-80.
Behind the top three, Matt Hutchings placed fourth at 11-over 153 after rounds of 76 and 77. Tony Rappa and Josh Durso tied for fifth at 12-over 154, with Rappa shooting 76-78 and Durso 78-76.
Tony Marcuccilli and Michael Bruno tied at 14-over 156. Chris Cook finished at 16-over 158, Justin Hilmire at 22-over 164 and Jordan Kraft at 23-over 165.
Champ Stein finishes under par to win senior title
While the men’s championship tightened considerably Sunday, Champ Stein never surrendered control of the Senior Championship.
Stein followed an even-par 71 on Saturday with a 1-under 70 in the final round to finish at 1-under 141 and win by six shots. His 36-hole total was the lowest gross score of any player across the championship divisions.
Pat Stein finished second at 5-over 147 after rounds of 74 and 73, while Darrell Felice placed third at 7-over 149.
Skip Felice and Ernie Pantano tied at 11-over 153. Ron Johnson finished at 157, Jack Stenberg at 161, Bob Sherman at 164, Brian Preston at 167, Eric Brace at 168, Lonnie Doty at 179 and Mike Struble at 198.
Oddi takes Open A by two
Brian Oddi Sr. carried a four-shot advantage into Sunday and held off a pair of challengers to win Open A.
Oddi followed an opening 79 with an 84 for a 163 total, two shots better than Shawn Adle and Jeff Kapps at 165.
Kapps made up one shot on Oddi in the final round with an 82, while Adle closed with an 85 after beginning the weekend with an 80. Lou Hrycko finished fourth at 168, followed by Larry Lang at 171, Stan Hatch at 177 and Tom Hawley at 180.
Kellen Mahoney and Brian Oddi Jr. each shot 83 in the opening round before withdrawing.
Stevens holds off Incarnato in Open B
Joe Stevens entered the final round with a five-shot advantage in Open B and needed nearly all of it.
Stevens posted a second consecutive 90 to finish at 180, while Dan Incarnato made an eight-shot improvement from Saturday and closed with an 87. Incarnato finished two shots back at 182.
Rob Schemerhorn also rallied Sunday, improving from an opening 98 to an 87 to finish third at 185. Ian Swim placed fourth at 190, while Tim Cameron and Nicholas Russell tied at 192.
Dave Lewis finished at 214, and Mike Swim withdrew following an opening-round 106.
Cameron wins women’s championship by 13
Juleita Cameron took a five-shot lead into the final round of the Women’s Championship and widened it Sunday.
Cameron followed an opening 87 with a 91 for a 178 total, finishing 13 shots ahead of Steph Incarnato.
Incarnato shot 95-96 to finish at 191. Lisa Russell was third at 195, followed by Erin Linehan at 220 and Amy Osterhout at 226.
The weekend produced five division champions — Cameron, Champ Stein, Oddi, Stevens and Burdsall — but the men’s championship provided the largest final-round reversal.
Troup started Sunday at 3 under and seven shots clear of Burdsall. Burdsall never went lower than 1 over for his round, but he didn’t need to. He stayed close to par while the margin steadily disappeared, played the final six holes 1 under and finished one shot ahead.
For Burdsall, it added up to club championship No. 10.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.