Bleile on top of the podium — again

NORWALK — One could not blame the people in the pro shop if there was a bit more celebrating than usual after this year's Eagle Creek Club Championship matches. There were multiple reasons. First, Ladies Champion Nancy Bleile reached double figures as far as titles, winning her 10th which tied her with Nancy Dilger and left her just one short of the all-time leader (men and women), the late Betty McCarty. Bleile, who had near misses two of the last three years, left little doubt this time in leading by 11 strokes over defending champion Tacy Bond after Saturday's 18 holes. Rosemary Bordman placed third in the Championship Flight with a 90-95—185. Another reason to raise a toast was the return of Dustin Lieber to the winner's circle. Lieber held pro status after winning back-to-backtitles in 2015 and 2016 right out of high school and then going west where he attended PGA school. But, when the popular club company, PXG, came calling he gave up his pro status and two years ago regained his amateur status. He put golf on the back burner for a couple years but it is apparent his game is back as he won by six strokes over the weekend, topping Chase Hicks, the third-place finisher last year. It stayed in the pro shop so to speak even in the A Flight where Seth Gilbert, the greens-keeper at New London's Millstone Hills, was thewinner. He shot 41-35—76 on Saturday and 43-40—83 on Sunday for a two-day total of 159, two strokes better than always-competitive Jim Mongiardo (77-84—161). "The A flight was a real dog-fight between the top three, Gilbert, who had five birdies over the two days, Mongiardo, and third-place finishers (tie) Eric Schneider and Mel Holida, both shooting 164," Club Pro Tyler Beveridge said. Few could believe the outcome in the B flight, not because one of Beveridge's right-hand men in the pro shop, Eric Bright, won it with a pair of 80s for 160 (37-43 and 39-41), but who finished second? — A 12-year-old St. Paul student, Mason Beatty. He shot 81-80 to lose the flight by a single stroke. "Mason is just a remarkable player for his age," Beveridge said. "He shot those numbers and as I look out the pro shop window, he is still working on his putting game." Seventy-year-old Mark Hunter won the Senior Net Division with a 151 net. His gross scores were 92-89 and net numbers 77-74. That topped Dave Skinn's 153, his card showing 77-76 net figures and 88-87 gross numbers. Also contested was a Women's Net division. That went to Doreen Shutt with net 142. "She was another player who really came to play this weekend," Beveridge said. "And she needed the 115 (Saturday) and 105 on Sunday to stay out in front of a very competitive Mindy Soisson-Calhoun, who showed 105 and then 104 for a net 145, three strokes back." Donna Pittenger was third with net 150. Beveridge believed the play of the 10-time women's champion (Bleile), was perhaps the most remarkable of the weekend. That and the play of what looks to be a 12-year-old phenom. "Nancy played like she was not going to be denied," he said. "She had that near insurmountable lead over Tacy to start the Sunday 18 and then just continued to widen that lead. After the first-day 40-38—78, she played Sunday in 72 strokes, going out in 37 and coming home in 1-under 35. Only Dustin Lieber had a side like that this weekend. He had a side of 32 on Saturday and a 35 on Sunday. He had eight birdies while his closest competitor (Hicks) had six. In that men's championship flight, Max Berry shot 77-75—152 for third place while former champion Rod Bordman and Gary "McKay tied at 156. "All-in-all, it was a memorable weekend in the debut for my assistant Dusty Roth and myself," the 30-year-old PGA professional stated. "The staff did a heck of a job. The course was in perfect shape and the weather could not have been any better. And there was some good golf played." Editors note: Beveridge and Roth were major contributors to this story.