Lathrop’s record-setting win highlights area club championships

Stonington — James Lathrop passed a Pequot Golf Club legend in the record books by winning his seventh men's club championship on Sunday.

It just so happens that Lathrop has a tight connection with the previous record holder Vic Walter, who won six titles, with the last one coming in 1991.

Walter once served as Lathrop's mentor and helped him get a caddy scholarship. Lathrop attended the University of Connecticut.

"Vic was very good to me," said Lathrop, who's from North Stonington. "Vic was an institution here for three decades, maybe more. He was known by all in the area. He was a good player."

Lathrop said he "never imagined in his wildest dreams" that he would break Walter's club championship mark. His father won the crown three times. The victory didn't come easy. Lathrop fought off long-time member James Stack of Mystic for the second straight year, posting a three-shot victory in the stroke play tournament. He finished with a three round total of 216 (74-68-74) while Stack fired a 219 (77-70-72).

The pair separated themselves from the field early on in the stroke play tournament.

Carrying a five-shot lead into the final round, Lathrop watched his advantage shrink to two strokes on the front nine.

"I was hitting the ball well, but I wasn't making any putts," Lathrop said. "I was playing a little bit defensively with the lead. James played great all weekend and it got pretty close on the back nine."

But Lathrop, who's been playing at Pequot for 35 years, refused to buckle.

On the par 4, 14th hole, Lathrop hit the green on his second shot and eventually drained a three-foot par par while Stack found the green-side bunker, leading to a bogey. His lead grew to three.

To his credit, Stack responded by winning the next hole. He played the 15th hole nearly perfectly and pumped his fist after sinking a 10-foot birdie putt.

Both golfers stumbled a bit on the next two holes, notching back-toback bogeys. Stack had some bad luck on No. 16, as his drive kicked into the

woods.

Lathrop closed out the match by sinking a short birdie putt on the par 5, 18th hole.

"It's very hard," Stack said of trying to overcome a five-stroke deficit in the final round," especially against someone like Jim. He's very steady. He makes very few mistakes."

If not for Lathrop shooting a sizzling two-under 68 in Saturday's second round, the outcome might have been different.

"It was probably the best I played all year," Lathrop said. "Having a lead today made a big difference the way I approached the round."

After the match, Stack made a point to praise Lathrop, who has encouraged him to play more and work on his golf game.

"Jim is actually a huge reason why I've gotten more zoned in on my own game," Stack said. "He sponsored me to play in the Norwich Invite the last two years and he keeps telling me about state events to try to get me more into competitive golf tournaments. Just to play with somebody like him and how steady he is, it just makes me want to shoot even better."

Repeating at Stonington CC

• Club Championship Sunday at Stonington Country Club featured some drama and ended with the brother and sister duo of Diederick and Anne-Marie van der Velde defending their respective club titles.

In the men's club championship, Diederick van der Velde needed to sink a three-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the 36-hole match. He clinched the title with a birdie on the first play-off hole, beating Eric Briggs.

"It was one of the most exciting matches that we've ever had at the club," pro Mike Myszkowski said.

Neither golfer led by more than two holes in the two rounds of match play on Sunday.

Briggs carried a one-shot lead into the 36th hole and then chipped in from about 25 feet for par to put pressure on van der Velde, who answered with a clutch putt.

The two golfers headed to the first hole to settle the match. The playoff was short, as van der Velde clinch the win by converting a four-foot birdie putt.

"I asked my mom to come read the putt, but she said, 'no, dear, you're going to make it,' and I did," said van der Velde, a summer resident of Stonington.

It was van der Velde's third straight title.

"When you beat Mike Hawley (in the semifinals) and you beat Eric Briggs, that's as good as it gets," he said. "(Eric) is a real gentlemen. I couldn't play any better. It's very, very meaningful (to win three straight titles)."

In the women's club championship, Anne-Marie van der Velde survived a stiff challenge from three-time champion Jeanne Tingo for the second straight year, pulling out a 2-and-1 win.

She trailed only once in the match after Tingo made two birdies in a row to go 1-up through 11 holes.

"She's amazing golfer and a great competitor," Anne-Marie said. "My short game saved me today because she hit such a long ball."

Van der Velde admits that she gets nervous playing in the club championship final but enjoys the competition and atmosphere.

"Stonington Country Club is a great club because there's a lot of club support," Anne-Marie said. "A lot of people come out to watch, which makes it even more fun. I enjoy the whole tournament. I just want to play my best. If my best wins, then I'm grateful for that."

Stefanski adds another trophy

At Elmridge Golf Course in Pawcatuck, Pete Stefanski added to his list of club championships, beating Dwayne Vance in a scheduled 36-hole match. Stefanski carried a six-shot lead into the second round and then finished off his opponent.

Stefanski has won four of the last five club championships and seven overall, tying Anthony Kargul for second most titles in club history. He lost last year's final to Kargul. g.keefe@theday.com