New Year’s Invitational 2022
The 96th New Year’s Invitational concluded Sunday, January 9th with 2021 champion Remi Chartier successfully defending his title.
Remi, a native of Montreal, Canada and a junior at East Tennessee State, won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Georgia Tech freshman Aidan Kramer. The two had tied in regulation with 9 under par 279 totals. Trailing by a shot going to the final hole, Remi could have won there but saw his 12-foot eagle putt go well past, requiring him to negotiate a 4-footer for birdie to get to extra holes. The playoff then began at #1. Remi hit a huge drive and followed with a pitching wedge second to within 3 feet. Aidan’s 20-footer for birdie slipped by and Remi holed his short birdie putt for the win.
Purdue’s Nick Hofman finished 3rd, only 1 shot out of the playoff. Second round leader Ervin Chang, a recent Liberty Unversity graduate, tied for 4th after setting a fast 68-65 pace the first two day before finishing at 282. Also in that 4th place tie were Ole Miss sophomore Brett Schell and David Lang, from Toronto, Canada, who won the Mid-Amateur trophy awarded to the lowest scoring player 25 years of age or older in the Championship Division. David led the first round with 67 and played steadily the final 3 days. With Remi’s overall win, the Championship Division was a Canadian sweep!
The 3-round Senior Division ended Saturday with a familiar name in the winner’s circle. Longtime member and frequent club champion Mike Barkley prevailed this year with a 1-under par 215 total, highlighted by a second round 68. David Kelley of Westbrook, Ohio finished 2 shots back.
It’s always good to see parents of many players following their sons’ progress but this year it was a bit more interesting as two Major champions were on the property during the week. John Daly II, a freshman at Arkansas and recent winner of the PWC Father-Son Championship, was followed by dad John on Thursday and Saturday. John II started with rounds of 69 and 68 the first two days but faltered a bit on the weekend, tying for 12th. Jason Langer, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, didn’t play his best golf, missing the 54-hole cut, but did have the support of dad Bernhard during each of the first 3 rounds.
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