By Dalton Balthaser
NORTH KINGSTOWN - On Monday, Bruce Heterick raved about how well his partner Dean Parziale played on Day One of the Rhode Island Golf Association Senior Four-Ball (Gross).
On Tuesday, Parziale was thrilled with Heterick’s play.
A sign of a great partnership.
Agawam Hunt’s Parziale and Heterick successfully defended their Senior Four-Ball (Gross) title Tuesday with a two-day total of 11 under at North Kingstown Golf Course (par 70, 6,269 yards).
Swansea Country Club’s Mike Arter and the host club’s Hermen Dacones finished second with a two-day total of 9 under.
“It feels good to defend,” said Parziale. “In my life, I don’t think I ever defended a title.”
“If you play in certain skins games, you have to confirm your skins.” said Heterick. “We proved that last year wasn’t a fluke.”
The pair held a one-shot lead when they stepped to the first tee Tuesday. In last year’s event at Potowomut Golf Club, they finished with a two-day total of 2 under in blustery and cooler conditions.
“Last year we were two shots behind heading into the final round,” said Parziale. “Today, we both told each other that we needed to go out and shoot another 64. That was our goal.”
It didn’t take long for them to get on the right track.
Heterick kick-started the day with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 379 yards). After hitting his drive a little low off the face, Heterick hit a 6-iron from 160 yards to 20 feet. Unlike Monday, Heterick’s confidence with the putter changed with one stroke.
“For me, birdieing the first hole was a huge confidence boost,” said Heterick. “I putted so horribly yesterday so to roll in that 20-footer to start the day was what I needed. I wanted to be aggressive.”
Heterick continued the trend with another birdie on No. 6 (par 4, 362 yards). He hit a gap wedge from 100 yards to six feet and converted.
Birdies on Nos. 7 (par 5, 554 yards) and 9 (par 4, 290 yards) had them in firm control.
“Once I looked at the scores at the turn, I knew we were in a match play scenario with Mike and Hermen,” said Parziale, 60, of East Providence. “That frees you up knowing you only have one team to beat but it doesn’t make it easier.”
When they reached the 12th tee, Parziale thought the tournament was wrapped up. They had a three-shot lead and bogeys in a best-ball tournament don’t happen often.
But birdies do.
Dacones birdied Nos. 12 (par 4, 335 yards) and 13 (par 4, 407 yards) and all of a sudden their lead was one.
They would’ve been tied had Heterick not rolled in a 10-footer for par on No. 13 to avoid the dreaded two-shot swing.
“I had my game yesterday and Bruce played well today.” said Parziale. “He made a lot of clutch birdie putts and par saves when Mike and Hermen made ones of their own.”
“Dean drove the ball so well the last two days,” said Heterick, 57, of Barrington. “He was hitting wedges into a lot of the greens, which makes things easier when the greens are small.”
Players were raving about North Kingstown, especially since it was a new course for many.
“The golf course is in great shape and its healthy,” said Heterick. “The greens are true and roll nicely.”
“This is the first time we’ve ever played at North Kingstown,” said Parziale. “It’s a fun place to play.”
Both Arter and Dacones and Heterick and Parziale matched pars on the way in. Clinching a repeat title for the Agawam tandem.
The last duo to win consecutive titles was Dr. George Pirie of Valley Country Club and his partner Tom Acciardo of Ledgemont Country Club. They won four straight (2013-16).
“Hopefully there isn’t a new golf partners dating app that comes out,” said Heterick with a smile. “Then Dean may look for another partner.”
“We’re 2-for-2 in this event,” said Parziale. “We aren’t going to be switching it up.”