If organizers of the Idylwylde Senior Invitational would like to ensure a little extra drama at their annual event, the recipe seems simple enough: ensure that Jay Jewett is entered in the field.
Two years ago, playing the event for the first time, the local who has enjoyed success in the Men's Invitational on multiple occasions advanced to a playoff showdown at the Seniors, falling just short in a loss to Jim Christison.
Back for a second shot earlier this month, Jewett would play two extra holes before slipping past Derrick Filoon, the pair having completed the single round stroke event with identical scores of one over par 73.
Jewett and Filoon enjoyed a two stroke advantage over Vince Palladino (55-59 low gross), with Jason Prpic and Ed Eibl (65-69 low gross) another two shots back.
The day finished nicely for Jewett, who overcame a bit of a self-inflicted rough start.
"I was four over after six holes because I did not want to get out of the cart in the rain to warm up," he noted with a laugh. "Eventually, I hit a couple of good shots and started to get it going. I hit four really good shots in the playoff, played really solid there which was nice."
A bothersome left shoulder injury has curtailed the golf schedule of the man who lost in the 2009 Idylwylde Invitational final to Mark Brewer, opting to by-pass the Invite this year due to the challenges of trying to play on three consecutive days.
"I don't bomb it anymore, especially now," said Jewett. "I have to really scale back when I got after it just because it hurts."
All of which makes a single day competition on this particular course all the more inviting. "Golf courses that put a premium on putting it in play, being smart, knowing where to miss - those definitely suit my game."
And for as much as health might be far more of a topic of conversation at the Senior Invitational than it would be a month from now when the field of 192 gathers at the Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, the thrill of victory still drives so many of these highly experienced golfers.
"I still love competing and obviously love coming out on top," said Jewett. "There are a lot of good senior players in northern Ontario and it's fun to get out and see them and compete. And these one day events for me are ideal."
The remaining age category low gross champions were:
50 - 54 age bracket - Jay Jewett & Derrick Filoon - 7360 - 64 age bracket - Andrew Benedetti, Guy Robineau, John Kusnierczyk - 80
70 - 74 age bracket - Rick Mutuchky - 83
75 - 79 age bracket - Frank Demarco - 81
80 + age bracket - Albert Bertuzzi - 84
