Rick Karbowski

Karbowski Captures 2^nd Consecutive N.E. Open title

Final round 68 propels veteran to two stroke win over Sisk, Wightman
September 22^nd

            Bolton, MA-Entering Friday’s final round of the New England Open tied for the lead at 7-under par with 22-year-old phenom Sean O’Hair, Rick Karbowski faced a tall task if he planned on retaining his reign as New England Open Champion for yet another year. The 49-year-old veteran displayed his usual steely reserve, though, and closed with 4-under par 68 at the challenging International Golf Club for an 11-under par total and a two stroke victory over Geoff Sisk and Tele Wightman.  Sisk, per usual, was clutch in the final round, as his 7-under par 65 was the low round of the day and leapfrogged him over roughly a dozen players

            “I just tried to play my own game,” Karbowski said. “I wasn’t making mistakes and I was taking advantage of my good shots.”

Heading into the par four, 16^th hole, Karbowski trailed O’Hair by a single shot. After a poor tee shot, O’Hair made a great recovery, and was just short of the green lying two. Karbowski, meanwhile, hit the green in regulation and was eying down a fifteen footer for birdie.

            O’Hair then pitched to six feet. Putting first, Karbowksi canned his birdie bid to tie O’Hair at 10-under par. Surprisingly, O’Hair then three-putted to fall two shots behind.

            “That really pumped me up,” Karbowski said of the three shot swing. Following a par on the par 3, 17^th hole, he then hit “one of the best drives of the week” on the par 5, 18^th hole and capped off his week in style with a closing birdie.

            Unlike many other Cleveland players who are hoping to use the fall schedule as a springboard to career defining performances in the PGA TOUR Qualifying School, the soon to be 50-year-old Karbowski is bound for the Champions TOUR Qualifying School, scheduled for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.

            With less than a month and a half to prepare, Karbowski said that a quality win such as this over a highly competitive field consisting primarily of Cleveland Golf Tour members is “a huge boast heading into Q-School. The competition out here is terrific,” he added. “It really helps my game.”

             Prior to this event, Karbowski, a teaching professional at Cyprian Keyes, had registered two top 16 finishes in four events on the Cleveland Golf Tour. This victory marks his second triumph in an NEPGA event in the past month. In August, Karbowski teamed up with Cyprian Keyes head professional John O’Hara to win the New England Professional-Assistant Championship at Wachusett Country Club.