THUNDER BAY – It was a record-tying day for Robert Cumming at the Strathcona Invitational.
The 48-year-old, buoyed by chip-ins on the fourth and eighth holes, outlasted former winner Scott Wilke, winning Monday’s championship final 4-up to capture his seventh title at the 95-year-old event, tying Barry Caland for the most in tournament history.
It never gets old, said Cumming, whose last title came in 2019.
However, when the competition started, he didn’t think he had much of a chance.
“It feels great. This one kind of came out of left field. I haven’t been playing very well. I wasn’t really expecting a whole lot this week, but it came together well today,” Cumming said.
Catching Caland, who won his titles between 1992 and 2010, is special, he added.
“It feels good, I’ve got to say. That’s a big number. When I started playing< I never thought I’d get to that number and I’m happy to be alongside him here.”
No. 7 came 29 years after his first, when he beat Peter Lovis in the 1996 final.
Nearly three decades later, he still hasn’t lost the love for the game, or the tournament.
He might not play all the local majors, but this one – which his father Bob worked tirelessly to organize for decades – will always hold a special place in his heart.
“It’s my favourite tournament. I look forward to it every year. I’ve pared down my schedule a lot the last few years, but this is one I’ll never miss.”
Cumming said it was definitely his touch around the green that brought him to the top of the podium once again.
The chip-in on four was no gimme, his second shot finding the elevated turf between the green and the fifth tee box.
“That was one-in-million from high left on four,” he said. “I chipped that in and I chipped in for eagle on eight. And my putter was outstanding too. It was probably the best chipping and putting round I’ve ever had.”
The shot on eighth was for eagle.
Up three after nine in the match-play format, he used the flat stick to snag another hole on the tricky 10th green at Strathcona Golf Course.
Wilke, who had just over 100 yards in, left his ball high on the downward sloping green. Cumming, who was 96 yards out, left himself about a dozen or so feet up the hill for his birdie.
Wilke slide wide left, Cumming dropped in the cup and the lead was four-up.
Wilke then three-putted the par 3 11th green, giving away a chance to get one back on Cumming, who missed the green to the left and had to punch on, leading to a two-putt birdie.
Cumming went five-up on the 1th, draining another birdie from below the hole, and when Wilke’s birdie putt on 13 missed, the match was at dormie.
Cumming lipped out for a match-winning birdie on No. 14, but closed it out one hole later when Wilke’s birdie putt wouldn’t fall.
“I thought I played pretty well. I hit the ball good today. I just didn’t put as good as I’d like to. All in all, it was a good weekend,” said Wilke, the 2022 champion.
Caland captured the senior title, beating John Shaw 5&4. Mark Willianen was the super senior champion, beating Bruce Dafoe 1 up and Geoff Pattyson won the masters title, winning 4-up over Brian Mallon.
