September 2022 Ohio Golf Journal

For the fifth time in her amateur golf career, Canton’s Suzi Spotleson qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. However, this time she made it to the round of 16. With scores of 78 and 73 in the 36-hole stroke play, she finished tied for sixth and advanced to the 64-player match play. Suzy defeated Marci Dubois from Scottsdale, Arizona in the first round and slipped by Shelly Haywood of Huntington Beach, California 3 and 1 in the round of 32. “At these events, it is just kind of an endurance test,” Spotleson said. “You just hope you are the one that catches lightning in a bottle. The hard part is the qualifying. Everybody is good so if you can just qualify in one of the 64 spots, it’s anyone’s tournament.” Suzy’s journey ended in the Round of 16, when she was defeated by Sue Wooster from Australia. Wooster made it all the way to the final match but was defeated by the U. S. Women’s Senior Champion, Shelly Stouffer from Canada. Suzy Spotleson Advances in U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Ace for Brian Duffin 71-year-old Bob Fairchild, a former OhioAmateur champion, recorded the ninth ace of his life on the 18th hole of the Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson. This ace was a bit more meaningful for Fairchild, however. PartneredwithDavidGoldense, a former President of NOGA, Fairchild was filling in for Brian Duffin, who was recuperating from complications of a heart attack. EMT’s had resuscitated Duffin, a triple bypass was required and complications from the surgery had left Duffin experiencing a difficult recovery. Goldense asked Fairchild to sub in as both are good friends of Duffin. Duffin had been on both golfers minds all day and maybe this is proof that sometimes God does listen to golfers’ silent pleas.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ2Nzk4