STOWE, Vt.- The 2023 Vermont Chapter Stroke Play Championship, hosted by Stowe CC was decided on the final putt of the tournament, in what was an extremely entertaining two-days of golf.
The tournament got off to a wet start on Monday which included a two-hour lightning delay during the round. CC of Vemont’s David Bennett led the way on Monday with the low round of 5-under par 67. Right on his tail was David Jankowski (Golf Garage VT) and Pete Weatherby (Manchester CC) who each shot rounds of 3-under 69. The Quechee Club’s Curt Goldsberry also recorded a under par round, shooting 1-under 70 to sit in 4th place.
In the Senior Championship, it was a battle of Mike’s, as Mike Slayton (Cedar Knoll CC) and Mike Zaranek (Brattleboro CC) shot rounds of 73 and 74 respectively to hold the top two spots heading into the final round. Williston GC’s Todd Trono finished round 1 in third place with a score of 76.
The final pairing on day two of Bennett, Jankowski, and Weatherby was a familiar one as these three players have combined to win 8 of the last 10 Stroke Play Championships. After the front nine holes not much had changed on the leaderboard; with Bennett recording an even-par 36 and Jankowski, Weatherby and Goldsberry each posting scores over par.
However, the back nine would be full of lead changes and birdies leading to a climatic finish. Jankowski got the scoring started with an eagle on 11 followed by a birdie on 12 to drop three shots and move to 5-under par and in a tie for first place. Back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11 by Goldsberry dropped him to 3-under on the day and into contention, while Weatherby made birdie on 11 to also sit at 3-under par.
From there, Bennett momentarily took back the lead with a birdie on the par-5 14th, only to make bogey on the following hole. One hole later, the lead changed for good on the par-4 16th as Jankowski made a birdie after sticking a wedge close to the pin on his approach shot with Bennett narrowly missing his birdie putt.
Jankowski took a 1-shot lead over Bennett into the 18th hole, a 295-yard drivable par-4 which played under par for the tournament. Although they were not the only two in contention as Goldsberry birdied his last to holes to sit at 5-under par in the clubhouse and Weatherby still in contention as well at 4-under par.
On 18, Jankowski hit his tee shot left of the green and faced a difficult shot over the greenside bunker, while Bennett’s tee ball left him with only a pitch left towards the green. Jankowski second shot was a beautiful flop shot leaving himself an uphill putt for birdie, while Bennett’s pitch came up short and faced a lengthy birdie attempt. Bennett faced what was essentially a must make birdie putt and showed his experience by draining it to tie Jankowski at 6-under and set up a potential playoff. However, no extra holes would be needed as Jankowski calmly converted his birdie putt to win the Stroke Play Championship.
Jankowski, the owner of Golf Garage VT, will now add his name to the Bob Lendzion Trophy for a fourth time having also won in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Bennett finished in 2nd place at 6-under par, followed by Goldsberry at 5-under par, and Weatherby at 4-under.
The Senior Chapter Championship was also a tight battle and was decided by a single shot. Mike Zaranek prevailed as the Senior Champion shooting a round of 75 to finish at 5-over par, outdueling Mike Slayton who finished at 6-over. While Zaranek would go home with the trophy, Slayton did not leave Stowe CC empty handed. Slayton hit a pure 6-iron on the par-3 2nd hole that found the cup for what was the 1st hole-in-one of this golf career.
Thank you to Stowe Country Club and Head Professional Dan Ruane. The Chapter would also like to thank our sponsors for the Stroke Play Championship, Avidia Bank, Branded Bills, Farrell Distributing/Michelob Ultra, Larkin Hospitality, Pomerleau Real Estate, the PGA Tour and Tournament Solutions!
