Vaara competes in CVGA’s Senior Amateur Championship

Dave Vaara of Medford had a strong first day, but wasn’t quite able to maintain it on day two during the Wisconsin State Golf Association’s Senior Amateur Championship.

The tournament was held Aug. 25-26 at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club. A total of 84 golfers completed the 36-hole, two-day tournament.

Vaara put himself in contention for a high placement on day one, shooting a 5-over-par 76. He was 1-under on the front nine, including birdies on the par-4 first and sevenths holes and one on the par-3 fourth. The only hole in the entire round where he wasn’t bogey or better was the par-4 14th, where he triple bogeyed.

Vaara’s 76 put him in a six-way tie for 11th place, only four shots behind co-leaders Mike Murphy of Minocqua and Jim Doing of Verona.

On day two, three tough holes knocked Vaara down the leaderboard as he finished the day with an 11-over-par 82 for a final score of 158. He tied Bill Crinzi of New Berlin and Michael Flynn of Middleton for 28th place. Vaara parred 12 holes on day two and birdied the par-5 18th.

Robert Gregorski of Menasha, who was one shot off the lead after day one, shot a 1-under-par 70 on day two and won the tournament championship with a 143, three strokes ahead of Doing and four better than Thomas Halla of Colgate. Murphy slid to fourth after a 76 on day two put him at 148 overall.

Gregorski is the runaway leader in the WSGA’s Senior Player of the Year standings with 7,339.33 points in 13 events played. Doing is second with 3,910.2 points and has played in 17 events this season. Vaara earned 127.67 points with his finish in last week’s championship tournament.