Charpek, Byer bring home NJSGA glassware

CHATHAM – Scott Michels came off the golf course at Fairmount Country Club, walked under the shaded patio, and threw his hands in the air in triumph.

“Leader in the clubhouse!” he said. “I always wanted to be able to say that.”

Michels’ celebration was short lived, but he did leave the New Jersey State Golf Association’s Senior and Super-Senior Amateur Championship with a trophy. Michels wound up third among Super Seniors, golfers over age 65.

Jim Byer, a 71-year-old Lawrenceville resident, finished first in the Super Seniors division but admitted, “It was ugly. I struggled.”

Byer finished with a two-day total of 156 strokes to take home the large, glass bowl-like award. Bill Charpek of Holmdel shot a 77 and a 1-over 73 to claim the Senior division by two strokes at 150.

The Super-Senior leader after a first-round 75, Byer had six bogeys and three pars on the front nine, and six pars and three birdies on the back on Tuesday morning. Kevin Clarke was two shots back, but tripled No. 18 and settled for second.

“It’s not the course’s fault, it’s mine,” said Byer, who had finished second on a match of cards at the inaugural Super Senior event five years ago and won the year after.

“I get a lot of satisfaction out of (winning). You never know, at this age, who’s going to wake up in the morning: someone who’s going to play well or someone whose timing is off. My timing was way off.”

Charpek expected to need to shoot at least 2-under on Tuesday to take the Senior crown, so his goal was to get a birdie on every hole on the way back in. He birdied No. 6 and 11, bogeyed 17, and had a double bogey on 7. But when his chip shot on 18 went in the hole and deflected back out, he was dismayed — even though he saved par.

He still wound up two strokes ahead of Sparta resident Anthony Fioretti (Ballyowen) — who said this is “the best golf I’ve ever played” — Thomas Hassel (Manasquan River) and Jay Blumenfeld (Mountain Ridge).

“It’s kind of a hard hole to finish on. I’m really surprised 150 was the number,” said Charpek, 58, a real-estate developer. “This course can be had. The greens were nice. The wind was definitely blowing out there. It affected a number of shots on the back nine.”

Clarke, a former Marine from Manville, was pleased just to advance to the final round for the first time. A golfer since age 16, Clarke doesn’t play many tournaments. He birdied No. 16 both days.

“I killed the driver all day, but (on 18) it got to the edge of the water and it dropped in,” said Clarke, 65, who credits yoga and TRX workouts with improving his flexibility. “I made some critical putts. One little mistake is all it takes in golf.”

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/

57th Senior Amateur Championship (55+)

Bill Charpek (Navesink) 77-73-150; Anthony Fioretti (Ballyowen) 76-76-152; Thomas Hassel (Manasquan River) 75-77-152; Jay Blumenfeld (Mountain Ridge) 73-79-152; Ron Vannelli (Forsgate) 77-76-153; John O'Malley (Forsgate) 75-79-154; David Weiniger (Warrenbrook) 77-77-154; Larry Kopp (Glenwood) 75-80-155; Cyrus Whitney Jr. (Hackensack) 76-80-156; Scott Newman (Brooklake) 76-83-159; Bill Henry (Forsgate) 79-75-159; John Blum (NJ National) 74-85-159; Mark Dennish (Back Brook) 76-84-160; Robert Lynch (Hawk Pointe) 80-80-160; Paul Manore (Neshanic Valley) 80-80-160; Jeff Kortina (Oak Hill) 80-81-161; Brian Sexton (Seaview) 80-81-161; Huey Yang (Royce Brook) 79-82-161; Christopher Scott (Baltusrol) 77-85-162; Tom Avers (Neshanic Valley) 79-85-164; Jeff Goydan (Green Knoll) 79-87-166; Douglas Darlington (Bowling Green) 80-87-167; L. Randy Riley (Baltusrol) 80-88-168; Peter Barba (Valley Brook) 80-91-171

5th Super-Senior Championship (65+)

Jim Byer (Springdale) 75-81-156; Kevin Clarke (Quail Brook) 79-79-158; Scott Michels (Hackensack) 81-78-159; Jay Green (Alpine) 79-81-160; Fred Armona (Picatinny) 81-40-161; Allan Falvey (Panther Valley) 80-82-162; Rich Keeley (Ridgewood) 80-83-163; Ned Steiner (Mountain Ridge) 80-83-163; William Catlett (Black Oak) 82-83-165; Dick Altschul (Rockleigh) 83-83-166; Peter Broms (Montclair) 83-83-166; Joe Stahley (Hominy Hill) 84-82-166; Steve Hennessey (Ridgewood) 84-84-168; Joe Iacobucci (Picatinnny) 84-84-168; Frederic Sterritt (Raritan Valley) 83-85-168; Roy Pera (Rockaway River) 84-85-169; William Stake (Fox Hollow) 81-90-171; Anthony Maurella Sr. (Picatinny) 82-82-174; Alan Bushell (Edgewood) 83-83-176