By Dalton Balthaser
PAWTUCKET – The RIGA’s 2021 season stretched into November for the first time but that didn’t stop Kevin Blaser from ending a drought of his own.
He started the final round of the 23rd John P. Burke Memorial at Pawtucket three shots behind Round One leader Augie Sottile of the Amateur Golf Tour of New England.
But as he made the turn, he had a four-shot lead. One he wouldn’t relinquish.
Blaser entered the Winner’s Circle for the first time by claiming the #BurkeMemorial Tuesday at Pawtucket (par 69, 6,420 yards)
His final round of 71 was good enough for a 36-hole total of even par and a one-shot victory over Mike Hamilton of Kirkbrae Country Club.
Sottile shot a final round of 80.
“It means a lot to finally get a victory under my belt,” said Blaser, 45, of Somerset, Mass. “I have been playing well this season. I’ve been competitive for several years and just haven’t sealed the deal.
“This win doesn’t change anything for me at all. Even though it took me 10 years to get my first win, I have always believed that I have what it takes. An event like this confirms that belief.”
Just like Round One, weather caused changes to the schedule for Round Two. Round One of the Burke was played at Newport on Oct. 20-21 and Round Two was played on Nov. 1-2 at Pawtucket.
The event was originally scheduled for Oct. 4-5.
“I tried to keep my game sharp during the break that we had,” said Blaser, of Swansea Country Club. “It has been a crazy season to say the least.”
Blaser said the key to his round was a par on No. 2 (par 4, 416 yards). His ball came to rest just feet from being out of bounds.
Blaser kept his composure and made a miraculous par after making a 15-footer from the fringe. Blaser said that could have been an easy double bogey, but to make a par was a huge victory.
He then made a 20-footer for birdie on No. 4 (par 4, 380 yards) to jumpstart his round. He punched a 9-iron from 90 yards to get into red figures.
He made the turn in 1-under and had a four-shot lead, unbeknownst to him.
“I just wanted to focus on hitting the best shot I could on each occasion,” said Blaser. “I am not a leaderboard watcher and never have been. For me, it only causes more stress.”
That lead was cut to one after making a double bogey on No. 11 (par 4, 308 yards) and a bogey on No. 14 (par 4, 375 yards).
But he steadied the ship and closed with four consecutive pars. He rolled in a four-footer for victory on No. 18 (par 4, 379 yards).
“I didn’t miss a putt inside of eight feet in the round,” said Blaser. “I have always felt confident in my putting.”
Over the years Blaser has become close friends with RIGA Hall of Famer Paul Quigley as a result of baseball. He said it’s helped him to pick the brain of arguably one of the greatest players in RIGA history.
“My son plays baseball with Paul Quigley’s grandson,” said Blaser. “Over the years, we have played a lot of golf together and I have learned a lot from him about the mental aspect of the game. Why wouldn’t you want to pick the brain of a Hall of Famer?”
But now that Blaser has gotten over the proverbial hump, he reflects on the last couple of years where injury has kept him from reaching his true potential.
“This is the best I have felt in a long time,” said Blaser. “I tore a tendon in my arm in 2015 and I was trying to play through it. I couldn’t even hold a club. The COVID-19 pandemic might have helped me. I was able to rest it and not play as much. It’s nice to finally get some hardware. It’s a great feeling.”
Senior Division
2019 was a banner year for Jon Fasick.
He won the Senior Division of the Burke at Shelter Harbor Golf Club and the Senior Division of the Stroke Play at Valley Country Club.
But like Blaser, injuries have kept Fasick from returning to that form.
“I’ve been dealing with back issues for the last couple of seasons,” said Fasick. “I went and saw my friend Fred Dolan and he told me that some of my swing issues had to do with trying to compensate for my back. Don Foberg told me the same thing. They helped me get back on track.”
Fasick used his old-school attitude to claim the Senior Division of the Burke Tuesday at Pawtucket (par 69, 6,175 yards).
His 36-hole total of 6 over was good enough for a two-shot victory.
“I haven’t played much since this tournament began on Oct. 20 and didn’t play much up until this final round,” said Fasick. “That must be the key to success, not playing a lot of golf. It seemed to have worked out.”
Fasick didn’t get off to an ideal start. In fact, he bogeyed the first three holes.
“I was wondering if I should get back in my car,” said Fasick after bogeying the first three holes. “But I’ve played golf long enough to know that things can change at any time. I kept my composure and kept grinding.
“I 3-putted two of the first three greens. I said to my playing partner Darren Corrente about how I never really seem to putt well at Pawtucket. I never know what it is. But then I rolled in a 15-footer for birdie on No. 4 (par 4, 380 yards) and then I got my confidence back. Funny how golf works.”
He then made 11 consecutive pars before bogeying Nos. 16 (par 4, 417 yards) and 17 (par 4, 410 yards).
Fasick, of New England Country Club, finished with a nice par save on No. 18 (par 4, 365 yards) to give him the title.
“Back in my era, even par would have won you a lot of tournaments,” said Fasick, 69, of Bellingham, Mass. “With the conditions being tough, that helped me. I haven’t done a whole heck of a lot the last two years but for me to finish the year with a trophy means a lot. It shows I can still compete.”