Kowalski runs away with Senior Men’s Metro; 86-year-old Krizman fires 75

SOUTH BEND — Kevin Kowalski freely admits that putting is not the strength of his golf game.

“I’m a rotten putter,” the 61-year-old Kowalski said. “My putting is sketchy at best.”

But the 1980 South Bend Washington graduate knows if you hit enough fairways and greens and make enough two-putt pars, you can win a title or two, as Kowalski has done since joining the grey-haired generation.

Men's Metro: Pierce delivers final-round haymaker — a four-under 66 — in 99th Men’s Metro rout

Sunday at Erskine Park, Kowalski stayed out of trouble for the most part, countering five bogeys — two of them on the par-5 fifth and 16^th holes — with three birdies in a round of two-over-par 70 on the way to his second overall title in the Greater South Bend Senior Men’s Metro golf championships.

“I hit the ball pretty well, pretty consistently,” said Kowalski, whose first Senior Men’s Metro title came in 2019. Sunday, his four-over-par total of 146 was eight strokes better than runners-up Brent Curtis of Granger (74) and South Bend’s Marty Nash (75).

Golf has been Kowalski’s passion even before his days with the Panthers more than 40 years ago, and he credits his wife Jan for allowing him the opportunity to play golf regularly once spring rolls around.

“I have a great wife who lets me do my thing,” said Kowalski, who plays four times every week in various leagues. “I love being out here with the guys.”

Women's Metro: For Women’s Metro champion Horan, winning for 24th time never grows old

Kowalski, who made two birdies in a two-over 74 at Elbel Park in Saturday’s opening round which endured a nearly three-hour rain delay, birdied the 320-yard third hole at Erskine Sunday with a 15-foot putt. But he turned in one-over 36 after making bogeys at the uphill, 370-yard par-5 fifth (a three-putt) and the 317-yard par-4 seventh.

On the back nine, Kowalski bogeyed the par-3, 180-yard 11^th and then three-putted the par-4 13^th before settling down. He played his last five holes in two-under thanks to birdies at the par-3, 208-yard 14^th (a 7-wood to 15 feet) and the 360-yard 18^th (a 9-iron approach to 12 feet).

“Other than fumbling at No. 5, I was pretty solid,” added Kowalski, who hit 15 greens. “I made some good putts, and I made some really ugly ones, too.”

The 57-year-old Curtis, a former assistant to Ross Smith at South Bend Country Club and now the manager of corporate hospitality and sponsorships for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship which returns next May to Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, overcame a rough stretch on his back nine to shoot his four-over 74.

Curtis birdied the second and fifth holes to counter bogeys at Nos. 2 and 3 in a front-side 35. But he bogeyed the 10^th through 12^th holes and then doubled the 14^th before settling down with three pars and a birdie at the par-3 17^th in a back-nine 39. Curtis’ 12-over total of 154 was four shots better than 50-59 flight runner-up Tell Williams, and Curtis’ total of 147 took net honors in the age group.

The 60-year-old Nash, a South Bend appraiser, made six bogeys — three on each side. His only birdie came at the 385-yard, par-5 16^th. Nash edged out Nicholas Mark and former champion Jim Shaw by four strokes for runner-up honors behind Kowalski in the 60-69 flight. Mark did win low-net honors in the flight and overall with his 140 total.

The best effort of the day, though, may have been the five-over-par 75 shot by 86-year-old Dave Krizman, who used it to win the 70-and-over flight. Playing Erskine at 4,653 yards, Krizman countered seven bogeys with two birdies to win by two strokes over Jim Van Fleit. Krizman’s net total of 144 was also the flight’s best.

“You’ve got to stay engaged,” said Krizman, who doesn’t look his age and keeps himself in top physical shape, working out four times a week when he isn’t working or playing and practicing golf. “It’s the same reason why I continue my practice in medicine — you want to stay engaged to help your family and others. I play with the guys at Blackthorn, and I tell them my biggest fear is when they won’t let me play with them anymore.”

The man they affectionately call “Doc” still has game, as those who have lost to him can attest with their wallets. “A 75 is pretty good for an old guy,” he said.

You can bet on that.

GREATER SOUTH BEND SENIOR MEN’S METRO GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

SOUTH BEND – Results after Sunday’s final round in the Greater South Bend Senior Men’s Metro Golf Championships at the par-70 Erskine Park Golf Course. The first score is from Saturday’s round at the par-72 Elbel Park Golf Course.

OVERALL GROSS

Kevin Kowalski 74-72—146; Marty Nash 79-75—154; Brent Curtis 80-74—154; Nicholas Mark 79-78—157; Jim Shaw 79-78—157; Tell Williams 77-81—158; Aris Andrews 81-79—160; Dan Filchak 81-79—160.

OVERALL NET

Nicholas Mark 69-71—140; James Parker 71-73—144; Kevin Kowalski 73-74—147; Brent Curtis 75-72—147.

50-59 FLIGHT (5,289 yards)

154: Brent Curtis 80-74; 158: Tell Williams 77-81; 160: Dan Filchak 81-79; 162: James Gates 83-79; 163: Joseph Miller 79-84; 172: Craig Eggers 82-90, Don Bedock 86-86; 177: Keith Hodgson 90-87; 178: Scott Tafelski 89-89; 181: Rich Horvath 93-88; 197: David Flock 96-101. Net winner: Brent Curtis 75-72—147.

60-69 FLIGHT (5,289 yards)

146: Kevin Kowalski 74-72; 154: Marty Nash 79-75; 157: Nicholas Mark 79-78, Jim Shaw 79-78; 160: Aris Andrews 81-79 162: Mike Robinson 77-85, Alan Smith 80-82, Mark Harman 81-81, John Heckaman 87-75; 168: John Forbes 83-85, James Parker 85-83; 169: Pat King 85-84l 172: Jay Leeper 86-86; 178: Doug Edison 94-84; 179: Win Lindner 90-89, Dale Garwood 95-84; 180: William Harris 86-94; 189: Matt McGraw 96-93; 194: Carter Schrader 97-97. Net winner: Nicholas Mark 69-71—140.

70-OVER FLIGHT (4,653 yards)

152: David Krizman 77-75; 154: Jim Van Fleit 80-74; 156: Steve Horvath 76-80; 159: Richard Neher 77-82; 161: Kurt Wissman 82-79, Kevin Swartz 83-78; 166: Walt Kroll 85-81, Stan Gebo 84-82; 167: Jim Fraser 82-85; 176: Jerry Hopkins 90-86—176; 183: Don Coddens 89-94—183; 187: Douglas Gale 93-94—187; 191: Randy Sipress 96-95—191; 196: Len Buszkiewicz 99-97—196; Others: Gary Tyler 83-NC, Jim Chaney 104-WD. Net winner: David Krizman 72-72—144

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Final round of Senior Men's Metro golf tournament at Erskine Park