By Dalton Balthaser

 

THOMPSON, CONN. – In golf, last-second preparation rarely works out to be an advantage for a competitive golfer. 

 

Dave McNally found himself looking for a partner for the Senior Four-Ball (Gross) at his home club, Quinnatisset Country Club. 

 

He called one of his weekend buddies Chris Markiewicz and asked him to play. Markiewicz moved around his work schedule to commit to McNally.

 

It turned out to be kismet.

 

McNally and Markiewicz used steady play and a calm attitude to claim the 29th Senior Four-Ball (Gross) Wednesday at Quinnatisset (par 72, 6,214 yards).

 

They overtook Day One leaders and clubmates Ej Wholey and Skip Hingley on the front nine and never looked back. 

 

Their two-day total of 9 under after a final round of 69 was good enough for a three-shot victory over Wholey and Hingley as well as another Quinnatisset duo in Tim Murray and Dan Navarro.

 

“Winning this means a lot to me,” said Markiewicz, 57, of Webster, Mass. “Dave called me last minute and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to play. But I was able to make the time to say yes to him and I am glad that I did.”

 

McNally, 68, of Brooklyn, Conn., has some scar tissue that hadn’t healed until today. He lost in playoffs in two Rhode Island Golf Association events at Quinnatisset in the past. The 2018 and 2020 Rhode Island Stroke Plays.

 

“I have had the low score in the Senior Division after both of the Stroke Plays here and lost in a playoff,” said McNally. “It was nice to be able to come out on top and to not lose in a playoff. I finally can get that monkey off my back.”

 

The winning duo started the final round one shot behind Wholey and Hingley. But knew there was still a lot of golf to be played. 

 

“I just wanted to make pars,” said McNally, who has been a Quinnatisset member for a total of 12 years on three different stints. “That’s all I wanted to do. Throughout the round, some birdie putts might fall but I didn’t want to force anything. Pars are tough to beat when you have a lead.”

 

Markiewicz rolled in a 20-footer on No. 4 (par 5, 519 yards) to get the round kickstarted. Then McNally took over.

He made birdies on Nos. 5 (par 4, 355 yards), 8 (par 4, 330 yards) and 10 (par 4, 368 yards). Highlighted by a crisp 5-iron from 168 yards to 12 feet on No. 10 that put them three shots ahead of the field.

 

“I’ve played with Dave a number of times over the years,” said Markiewicz, who is in his 12th year at a Quinnatisset member. “There’s no stress to being around him. You just play your game. He’s never looking to micromanage you and offer you advice. He lets you be you which is huge when it comes to competitive golf.”

 

Markiewicz rolled in a clutch 15-footer to save par on No. 12 (par 4, 364 yards). That ended up giving them a one-shot swing in their favor as Wholey and Hingley made a team bogey.

 

Quinnatisset’s final three holes under pressure are no cupcake. Plenty of water and nervy approaches. They can wreak havoc on a chase for a title.

 

“We didn’t play the last three holes well by any means,” said Markiewicz. “But that doesn’t matter. We made three pars and didn’t have to worry about doing something special.”

 

For almost two hours after securing the title, McNally and Markiewicz celebrated with their Quinnatisset members on the patio behind the first tee. Some who they rallied to beat and others who waited around to congratulate them.

 

“The people here are special,” said Markiewicz. “They make the club what it is. The camaraderie is a huge part of why I love it here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

 

“I like the fact that this is a golf club and not a country club,” said McNally, the defending Senior Club Champion at Quinnatisset. “It doesn’t have the fancy amenities of a country club, but you can play golf in under four hours any day of the week. It is a special place.”