CAPE ELIZABETH – Keith Patterson has already had quite the summer on the golf course, including two co-champion honors already in Maine Golf championships in 2022. But his win at the 61st Maine Senior Amateur Championship was all his own, winning the title at Purpoodock Club with rounds of 71-75—146 (+4) for his first Senior Amateur title.
Patterson teamed up with three fellow Biddeford-Saco members in May to tie for the win at the Senior Club Team Championship at Belgrade Lakes. He followed that up with another tie at the Senior Four-Ball at Riverside in June. He also recently won his club championship at Biddeford-Saco for the second year in a row. Now with the Senior Amateur title, he has proven to be the man to beat in Maine this year on the senior circuit.
The leaderboard for the final round at Purpoodock was all over the place on Wednesday, and at one point on the back nine there were eight players tied for the lead. Patterson emerged from the pack with a birdie at the 16th hole to move to +4 on the tournament, and after two pars to finish he ended up on top of a tight leaderboard.
Tom Caron of Bangor Municipal GC finished as the runner-up in this year’s event. Making three birdies on the back nine to shoot a two-under 34 coming in, Caron shot 74-73-147 (+5) to finish one stroke short. Dave Bucci (Portland CC) tied for third with Claude Hoopes (Island CC) at 148 (+6).
Three players tied for fifth to round out the top of the leaderboard. Dave Whitman (Norway CC), David Luce (Poland Spring CC) and Michael Nowak (Augusta CC) shot 149 (+7) over two days. Whitman had the best round from the field in the second round, shooting an even-par 71 at Purpoodock.
The top six finishers and ties from this event earned a berth in the Senior Match Play Invitational at Prouts Neck next month. With a win there, Patterson could perform a clean sweep of Maine Golf senior championships in the calendar year.
Maine Golf would like to thank this week’s host, Purpoodock Club, for their hospitality and for giving the field a good test of golf to determine the state senior champion. The club opened in 1922 and is celebrating its centennial this year, making it a fitting time to host a major event with players from around the state competing on its course.
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