BATTLE CREEK – If you want to be the champion, you have to beat the champion.
And for another year, nobody was up to that task.
Steve Martin finished as the champion for a third year in a row as he won the 31st annual Battle Creek City Senior Golf Tournament at The Medalist Golf Club on Wednesday.
Martin, who lives outside of Lansing, but is a regular at The Medalist, surged late to defend his title. Martin shot a second-round 69 to finish even for the two-day tournament, established for players 50-over, and win by one stroke.
“I birdied three of the last five holes. I had a lot of putts that were right on the edge and were really close, but then at the end, a few went in,” Martin said.
Martin fished with a two-day total of 144 after shooting a three-over-par 75 on the first day at Binder Park Golf Course, trailing the field by three. Ken Bjornson, who shot par on Wednesday, finished second overall at 145. Mike Tungate, who came in to the second round tied for the lead at 72, shot a 74 on Day 2 and finished two strokes behind the leader with Kevin Webber fourth, three strokes back.
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Mike Sequite won the Super Senior division for golfers over 70. Sequite finished with a 72 on Day 2 for a total of 146 to win by five strokes over second-place Doug Ludlow.
Sequite has won the open division three times, with his title on Wednesday being his first Super Senior championship.
“I shot one off my age. I am 71 and shot 72 today. Was out there, trying to shoot my age, which doesn’t happen often,” Sequite said. “This tournament is a lot of fun, always has been. It’s the same guys you play against every year. We all grew up together. I always say, it’s the same guys out there that beat you at 30, 40, 50 and are still beating you at 70. Today, I won, that’s all. It’s a fun time.”
The record for championships at the City Senior event in the open division is four with Virgil Archie and Joe Lee Miller each winning four times.
Martin will get a chance to match them next year.
“I came into this not having any expectations. I haven’t been playing real well, but decent. After winning last year, I guess I wanted to keep it going,” Martin said. “Hoping to try again next year to win again. Might as well, I have a streak going.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at [email protected] or 269-966-0678. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Steve Martin wins third straight Battle Creek City Senior golf event