Greg Ferguson and Artie Fink of Sinking Valley Country Club combined for a blistering 12-under-par round of 62 Sunday to run away with the championship flight title of the 30th annual Mount Union Invitational.
The event drew 128 teams, divided into 16 eight-team flights for 36 holes of best ball of partners medal play with 18 on Saturday and 18 Sunday.
After carding a seven-under 67 in Saturday’s opening 18 holes, Ferguson and Fink found themselves tied for second place and a shot off the lead of 66 posted by the York combination of John Knouse and Scott Knouse.
Ferguson and Fink had 10 birdies, an eagle and seven pars yesterday for a 19-under-par total of 129 to beat out a pair of challengers by eight strokes. Bob Sweitzer and Ken Fisher of Sinking Valley, who had 69 on Saturday, posted a 68 Sunday to tie for second place with Zach and Frontino at 11-under 148.
Ferguson captured his fourth Invitational title, but the first with Fink. In fact, it marked only the second time the Tyrone duo had combined talents in tournament play. The other was two years ago when they won the state two-ball tournament title at Huntsville Country Club near Scranton.
“We have very similar styles, although Artie hits the ball farther,” Ferguson said. “We were both on the green in regulation most of the time and kept the pressure off each other.”
Consistency was the name of the game for the Sinking Valley twosome. They didn’t have a bogey the entire tournament. They birdied six of seven holes, starting at the par-six seventh and extending to the 13th, to pull away from the field. The string was broken only by a par at No. 12.
Then came the eagle at the 14th hole where Fink said he was able to “go to school” on his partner. Ferguson had a similar line to the cup from two feet farther away, but missed his eagle try. Fink read his putt perfectly and then rolled in a 12-footer for the eagle.
Kelly Spence and Ken Spence of York edged out the Sinking Valley CC team of Ben DelBaggio and Len DelBaggio by a stroke to capture the second flight.
The Spences had a 72-71-143, while the DelBaggios came in at 74-70-144.
