Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club’s men’s champion Ricky Watson wrapped up a solid season on the links by adding to his trophy haul with victories in the top two match play competitions.
Watson, who edged out James Grigjanis-Meusel by one shot to regain the men’s open championship in August, had to beat his golf buddy again to claim the President’s Cup.
It was another tight one, with Watson prevailing 1-up. A year ago the tables were turned and Grigjanis-Meusel, who also was the 2023 club champ, beat Watson.
The President’s Cup is the only one of the club’s match play competitions in which players’ handicaps are not a factor.
Watson also won the Jim Brown Cup, named after the much-loved former member who died in 2021.
He faced Paul Dickson in the final of that contest and won the Jim Brown trophy for the third year in a row.
In the other men’s competitions, all played out in a series of elimination matches over the course of the season, Kevin MacLean won the Wettlaufer Cup and the Carmichael Cup.
In the Goldups pairs category, Jon Taylor and John Sobil prevailed, dominating most of their opponents to again finish as champions.
The cups were handed out last Thursday at the annual men’s league closing ceremony.
As part of the evening’s activities, in addition to a large selection of prizes, members could test their skill in a putting contest with some big cash at stake.
The sure-handed Ted Carmichael was the big winner, sinking about a 45-footer to scoop the top prize of nearly $1,000.
