Joliet Park District Golf Championship: Birdie propels Petrovic
By Tommy Stokke For Sun-Times Media July 15, 2012 9:54PM
Championship Flight winner Jeff Petrovic with his son Luke age 9 and Jeff shot a 144 for the 2 days at the Joliet Park District Golf Tournament 2012 held at Wedgewood Golf Course on Sunday, July 15, 2012. | Larry Kane~For Sun-Times Media
Joliet Park district championship
Day 2
Men’s “A” Flight (Net)
Tony Holowin Jr. 63-69-132
Jaime Salazar 65-70-135
Paul Sefcovic 69-70-139
Nick Blish 69-71-140
Genaro Cruz 72-69-141
Men’s “B” Flight (Net)
Gilbert Rios 62-66-128
Octavio Cardenas 65-65-130
Frank Marin 68-62-130
Ricardo Gonzalez 66-71-137
Sal Carbajal 70-69-139
Horacio Vargas 65-74-139
Men’s “C” Flight (Net)
Albert Carrasquillo
64-67-131
Javier Ceballos 70-64-134
Mike Arias 71-67-138
Todd Short 66-79-145
Charles Justis 71-74-145
Championship Flight
Jeff Petrovic 72-72-144
Matt Carter 72-74-146
Drew Anderson 75-73-14
Brian Komp 72-77-149
Matt Ward 71-78-149
Ladies Flight (Net)
Kathy Kazmar 71-74-145
Amy Blish 70-81-151
Nancy Getson 68-86-154
Edie Sims 73-84-157
Jean Troyer 76-84-160
Senior Scratch
Michael Bandy 78-78-156
Chi Kovel 78-78-156
Dan Kelly 82-76-158
Brian Swanson 80-78-158
Dan Warren 80-79-159
Kirk Stevens 77-82-159
Senior “A” Flight (Net)
Dale Hadala 66-71-137
Jerry Carr 71-66-137
Ray Hustad 70-72-142
Gil Elizondo 73-70-143
Fernando Cinta 65-82-147
Senior “B” Flight (Net)
Frank Westberg 67-65-132
Rich Collofello 70-66-136
Ron Smith 70-69-139
Doug Ceci 66-74-140
Eduardo Salgado 63-81-144
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Updated: July 16, 2012 9:48AM
As Jeff Petrovic walked off the 18th tee box at Wedgewood Golf Course, he looked back and asked, “Do I need a birdie?”
With such being the case, his approach was surely close, but Petrovic claimed it only appeared that way because of the angle.
Close was an understatement.
Petrovic reached the green within six inches of the hole before a birdie gave him a two-day total of 144 and outright lead from Matt Carter. When Carter’s birdie putt came up inches short, Petrovic captured the 2012 Joliet Park District Championship.
“I wasn’t sure how close at first, but it was real close,” he said. “I asked my son (Luke) if I should gamble and go for it since I thought I needed birdie, so I went with a full sand wedge and ended up six inches away. Those are the ones you like to make.”
Petrovic’s shot from just over 100 yards out put pressure on Carter (74, 146), who came off a bogey on 17. His approach shot wasn’t as fortunate as Petrovic’s, but it appeared he saved it with his long putt. Unfortunately for Carter, his ball came up a mere six inches short.
“Three-putting 17 was tough, then coming up six inches short on 18 hurt,” Carter said. “I knew I was close, and I figured I had to birdie 18 to have a chance.”
Petrovic topped the day-two field with a 72, taking home the championship after falling to Chuck Surina Jr. in a playoff last year. Drew Anderson (148), Brian Komp (149) and Matt Ward (149) rounded out the top five.
Just one hole before his masterpiece of an approach shot, Petrovic found himself frustrated heading to 17, even going as far as saying “I don’t have a chance.”
“I had just not birdied a reachable par-5 and bogeyed 16 and knew Matt (Carter) was playing really well,” Petrovic said. “I was putting myself in a position where I couldn’t win. I told myself to birdie 17 and 18 and see what happens, and I did.”
Petrovic tallied 6 birdies, 4 bogeys and a double-bogey in his round.
“It was a total grinder,” he said. “One minute you think you’re in it, the next you think you’re out.
“The kids these days hit it so gosh darn far that it’s getting harder to keep up. My days of competitive golf are fading. It’s getting tougher and tougher to play with these young kids. You just have to go out there and play with what you’ve got in front of you, and I was able to do that today.”
For Carter, it’s another step in the right direction for the local golfer found at the top of area leader boards more times than not.
“I keep getting closer and closer,” he said. “I know Jeff didn’t have his best stuff this year, but I was right there with him. It’s just fun to get out there with good players and have some good competition.”
