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Roaring Spring -- It took until the back-nine on Sunday for the sun to finally break free through the clouds, but when it did, the men's individual competition seemed to heat up, too.
Setting the stage, Scotch Valley's Sean Brannan played nearly flawless golf at Sinking Valley during Saturday's opening round. A total of nine birdies against just one bogey led to a terrific round of eight-under par, 64, setting a new 18-hole scoring record for the Greater Altoona tournament.
"I was really focused on Saturday," Brannan said. "From the start, I felt really comfortable and was kind of in the zone for the entire day."
Brannan's fine round placed him five shots ahead of Sinking Valley's Artie Fink Jr. and Scotch Valley's Anthony DeGol. Sinking Valley's Tyler Steiner, a senior at Hollidaysburg high school, was in fourth-place, six-shots back, after carding a 71.
As play unfolded at Iron Masters on Sunday, Brannan's pursuers were making up ground. Fink put on the biggest challenge after hitting his approach shot on the par-three, 13th hole, to within an inch of the hole. After tapping in for birdie, Fink was one-under for the day and within one-stroke of Brannan's lead.
The margin was still one-shot after Brannan birdied the 14th and Fink sank a clutch birdie-putt of his own on 16. Playing the final hole, Fink had a chance to draw even but settled for a two-putt par. Needing just a par himself to clinch the title, Brannan stepped up and sank a sizable birdie putt to seal the victory.
"It's really satisfying to win, especially against the golfers in this field," Brannan said. "It took me a while to get going today, but I was finally able to play the last few holes really well."
The win was Brannan's third Greater Altoona title in a row, and his 36-hole total of 137 came within two-shots of the tournament record set by Artie Fink in 2009.
"It's great playing with these young kids," a smiling, 56-year-old Fink said. "I played really well this weekend, but Sean and Anthony are the two best players in our area. If one of them plays well, no one's going to beat them."
In the men's team competition, Scotch Valley scored a two-day total of 431 to score a victory over the Sinking Valley men's team by six shots.
The women's competition this year saw big changes as the format called for four-member teams competing in a 'scramble' competition. The Iron Masters team of Gwen Paden, Connie Bolger, Kathy Bottenfield and Deb Showalter took a one-shot lead into the final round after carding an opening round of 67 and held on with a 74 on Sunday to post a one-shot victory over Summit Country Club.
"We sank a lot of putts on Saturday, but today they just didn't want to go in," Bolger said. "It was nice we were still able to hold on for a one-shot win."
The new format was welcomed by many of the women competitors.
"I think most of the ladies really enjoyed playing as a scramble," Paden said. "But I'm sure we'll talk again with the tournament officials and with the women to see if we can make even more improvements."
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: Sean Brannan(ScV): 64-73 (137), Artie Fink Jr.(SiV): 69-70 (139), Anthony DeGol(ScV): 69-74 (143), Quintin Dziabo(SU): 73-71 (144), Wes Elder(IM): 72-73(145), Tyler Steiner(SiV): 71-76 (147), Spencer Hinish(IM): 72-76 (148), Todd Homan(PH): 74-76 (150), Robbie Keith(IM): 80-71 (151), Jonathan Madey(ScV): 74-77 (151), Dan Solomon(SiV): 74-78 (152), Collin Reese(SU): 78-74 (152), Derrick Soellner(SiV): 77-77 (154), Mike Macionsky(ScV): 79-77 (156), Mitch Johns(SU): 81-78 (159), Ron Hinish(IM): 83-78 (161), Jesse Auker(PH): 78-83 (161), Luke Repko(SU): 78-83 (161), Tony Acrie(PH): 88-77 (165), Chuck Meyers(PH): 85-91 (176).
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS: Scotch Valley: 207-224 (431), Sinking Valley: 214-223 (437), Iron Masters: 224-220 (444), Summit: 229-223 (452), Park Hills: 237-236 (473).
WOMEN'S TEAM (Scramble Format) - 1. Iron Masters (Gwen Paden, Connie Bolger, Kathy Bottenfield, Deb Showalter): 141 (67-74), 2. Summit (Kelli Plunkett, Chrissy Sears, Morghan Krug, Jackie Mento): 142 (68-74), 3. Sinking Valley (Jenny Beach, Suz Price, Anna Myers, Kathleen Taylor): 144 (71-73).