It’s worth the wait
DeLucia beats Sullivan to win second Norwich Invite title
— Chris DeLucia lingered on the 15th green for a while after winning his second Norwich Invitational golf championship on Saturday.
He had tons of company.
It seemed every DeLucia family member and friend within driving distance showed up to celebrate with the two-time champion.
His father Paul served as his caddy. His wife Jen and nine-month son were also part of the gathering.
DeLucia, 34, closed out his championship flight match with Holden Sullivan, a recent graduate of RHAM High in Hebron playing in his first Invite final.
A 12-time Norwich Golf Course men’s club champion, DeLucia relied on his vast experience to settle down on the back nine and pull out a 4 and 3 victory.
“This is really special,” DeLucia said. “I look forward to this tournament every year. It’s the best tournament in the state. This is just an awesome feeling.
“… We had a good turnout from the DeLucia family.”
Fittingly, DeLucia clinched the match on the 15th, where he also secured his previous Invite title in 2018.
It also was the same place where Paul DeLucia’s only Norwich Invite championship appearance ended in defeat back in 1975.
“It was when it was the old course, so this was the 17th that day,” said Paul standing on the 15th green. “So it brought back memories. Both of Chris’ wins have been on this hole. My brother, who caddied for me that day, said it’s kind of fitting that Chris wins on this hole.
“I never forgot it. It’s great to see him do it. … It helps take a little salt out of my wound.”
The 97th Norwich Invitational championship final was originally scheduled for July 16 but moved due to heavy rains that day.
A big crowd turned out on a beautiful Sat
urday afternoon and buzzed around the course on in golf carts. It also contributed to the slow pace at times.
Neither golfer recorded a birdie.
“Neither of us had ever played before such a big crowd,” said DeLucia, who lives in Pawcatuck. “So we were both nervous. It was great having the carts and the atmosphere, but with the waiting, it was hard to get into rhythm and I think that showed with the play.”
The match was basically decided in the early stages of the back nine.
DeLucia, who played golf at St. Bernard School and UConn, held a 1-up lead at the turn, started to settle down, and took charge.
He won the 11th, 12th and 13th holes with pars to go 4-up.
Nothing fancy, just good steady golf. He drained a three-footer on the 15th to secure the title.
“Just being 16 years older than him now, I played in so many of these, I’ve learned that no one remembers how you win, you just have to play a little better than the other guy,” DeLucia said. “Usually, the final is not always the best golf.”
For Sullivan, who won a CIAC Division II individual state title in the spring, Saturday’s match was a valuable learning experience.
“I was feeling the pressure,” Sullivan said. “I was definitely struggling a little bit. It was a different world from my first three (Invite) matches. I think it was a really good experience for me.”
Sullivan, 18, who’s headed to UConn this fall, missed a few great opportunities to win holes, including missing a four-foot par putt on No. 8, a hole that both golfers went bogey.
He fell behind for good after losing the 7th hole and hung around for a while before DeLucia put him away.
“He made some gritty pars early,” said Sullivan, whose father Bill served as his caddy. “On hole 4, he made a 20-footer to stay all square. He really just kept his head down and made a bunch of good pars. He did a good job.”
Expect Sullivan, who lives in Marlborough, to be back in the final someday. He has the talent to be a regular contender.
“I hope to be here again next year,” Sullivan said. “That’s my goal.”