Nick Parish etched his name on the most coveted golf trophy in area golf last fall when he won the Men’s City Tournament for the first time.
Yet Parish felt like there was something missing. With Mateo and Tomas Rascon and Nate Spear all back in college last fall, Parish felt he still had something to prove.
Parish did just that on Sunday.
Trailing Tomas Rascon by two shots following Saturday’s opening round at Flint Hills Municipal Golf Course, Parish rallied from six back with four holes to play to force a playoff.
Parish then drained a 12-foot downhill putt on the second playoff home to successfully defend his title at Burlington Golf Club.
This one meant a little more to Parish.
“I feel like this one kind of validates last year. There were still some great golfers playing last year. Adam Moyers, Kacie Broeg and Matt Cox have all won it before and they were all in it last year,” Parish said. “Last year’s tournament was delayed until the fall. I ended up winning by four or five shots. This year was a little closer. It was fun to be clutch for a few holes.”
Parish, paired with Tomas Rascon and Mateo Rascon in the final group, found himself matching the college golfers shot for shot.
“Mateo and Tomas played great all weekend. Most of the day they both had the tournament in control,” Parish said.
After Tomas parred the 14th hole, Parish and Mateo Rascon found themselves in a deep hole with little time to dig out.
Parish went to work. He eagled the par-5 15th hole, then had tap-in birdie putts on 16 and 17.
Just like that, he found himself tied for the lead with Tomas Rascon.
“I had a really good stretch there,” Parish said. “We were both playing pretty defensive in the playoff because the greens were fast and firm.”
Both players parred the first playoff hole, the par-4 first hole.
The playoff then moved to the par-4 ninth hole. Parish was left with a tricky 12-foot downhill putt. Rascon was facing a 35-foot downhill putt. Rascon put his birdie putt within inches for a tap-in par.
Parish then knocked home his putt for the winner.
“I was happy just to get one,” Parish said. “Going back to back is pretty special.”
Mateo Rascon finished third in the Championship flight with a 141, three shots back. Adam Moyers was fourth with a 144, John Werner was fifth with a 146 and Scott Briggs was sixth with a 151.
Jackie Biggs won the Ladies Championship with a sizzling 1-under-par 142.
Lorenzo Watkins won the Open flight with a 152, while Frank Cooper won the Senior 2 flight with a 174 and Mark Ertz won the Super Senior flight with a 153.