Edison Invitational: Barach makes most of his return

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

Since moving away from the area last October, Chris Barach has been working for the Golub Corporation in a Price Chopper store located in Worcester, Mass.

He says his golfing rounds are down to a couple per month because of work commitments.

Despite the relative inactivity, the long-hitting Barach still has plenty of game, as witnessed by his one-under-par 71 to win the Edison Invitational Monday.

Barach, who grew up playing Mohawk Golf Club and attended both Old Dominion and Skidmore, said he hit the ball extremely well but had a few miscues coming in.

“To tell you the truth, when I got in, I didn’t think a 71 would stand up,” he said. “The course wasn’t playing super easy. I think the wind played a factor, and the greens were slick. You had to careful.”

Barach, 26, birdied the second, third, fourth and 17th holes.

“I made some decent putts, and I think I left about four shots out there,” he said. “It’s funny, because even though I’m playing a lot less, it seems I’m playing pretty well when I do play. I played pretty well last month in the Mohawk Member-Guest, and I played well here. I really miss playing in more tournaments. I wish I was able to play in the State Amateur.”

Barach, a former Tri-County Match Play champion, said he hopes to move back to the area once he gets more experience in the Worcester store.

“I just had some distance-control issues today. I came very close to shooting very low,” he said.

“It’s true that I’m not playing much. In fact, I’m a late entry. I came back home early so that my father, brother and I could attend one of the practice rounds of the PGA Championship in Rochester. This is on the way, so I decided to enter.”

Defending champion Jim Gifford of Mohawk Golf Club, who shot a 68 and then beat Dan Russo of Rolling Hills at Antlers in a playoff to win last year’s title, finished second with a 7 3.

“The course played fairly tough,” said Gifford. “I had two bogeys early, but then I birdied the par-5s to go one-under. Late in the round, I had three-putts on the ninth and 19th holes. Both of them were from inside 15 feet. But at the time, I figured that three- or four-under would win this. There were some good players out there.”

Mark Chylinski won the senior division (50 and over) with a 75. Peter Andrikopoulos and Ralph Maru each shot 77 in the super senior (65 and over) division, with Maru winning the playoff.

RESULTS

(Par 72)

Open Division — Chris Barach 71, Jim Gifford 73, Jim Bologna 74, Dan Russo 75, Jim Welch 76, Spencer Sautin 77, Chris Comi 77, Jim Mueller 77, Dave Pallas 77, Chris Fatone 80, Mike Wheeler 80, Brian Grastorf 81, Greg Stsopera 81, D.J. Tozier 81, Nick Longo 81, Bryan Barach 82, Justin Deitz 82, Tim LaSarso 84, Mike McCarrll 84, Dave DeMarco 86, Seth Adams 88, Matt Panneton 90, Ken Sanford WD.

Senior Division — Mark Chylinski 75, Bill Paulsen Jr. 76, Rocky Couser 76, Bill Burrill 78, John Deiotz 78, Al Nebolini 78, David Vanderzee 79, John Blain 80, Rocky Cocca 80, Dave Champagne 81, Mark Suprunowicz 81, Dave Camadine 82, Matt Burke 82, John Kellogg 82, Sal Romano 83, Toby Harding 83, Herb Stevens 84, Doug Roche 85, Bill Seward 86, Mark Yale 86, Dwight Hadley 97, Stan Moore WD.

Super Senior — Ralph Maru 77, Peter Andrikopulos 77, Jim Mannix 79, Tom McCarthy 83, Jack McMahon 85, Jim Reid 86, Peter Maioriello 87, Stan Walkanowski 93.