Enduring simmering temperatures, David Pfeil (The Legends Country Club) rolled in a par putt on the 18th hole to capture the Louis Cassett Senior Championship at Lake Forest Country Club in Lake St. Louis on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Earlier in the day, Robert Trittler (Persimmon Woods Golf Club) won his sixth Super Senior title. The two-day stroke play gross competition is for any St. Louis District Golf Association member at least 50-years-old.
Pfeil was the 2019 Cassett runner-up, so the win was satisfying. “I’m so happy,” he said. “You play in a lot of golf tournaments, and you don’t win very many, so very appreciative and appreciative to Lake Forest … what a great golf course, and the greens were spectacular.”
After the opening round on Monday, Aug. 21, Pfeil and Brian Lovett (Bellerive Country Club) shared the lead with one-over 73s. During the second round, Lovett slipped to a 75 to finish tied for third with Patrick Riordan (Meadowbrook Country Club). Riordan had surged into a tie with Pfeil going to the 11th Hole, but bogeys at Holes 15, 16 and 17 cost him. Meanwhile, Jim Greenstein (Meadowbrook Country Club) bounced back from an early bogey to post five birdies and climb within a stroke, but Pfeil’s final par secured the victory.
Joseph Correnti (Country Club of St. Albans) tied for fifth with 2022 champion Paul Neeman, each finishing six over par, to secure the fifth qualifying spot for the Jim Jackson Invitational at Algonquin Golf Club Oct. 14-15 , joining Pfeil, Greenstein, Riordan and Lovett.
Pfeil said he wasn’t aware of who was chasing him. “I wasn’t watching the scoreboard, was just trying to play my best golf and kinda got it done, got a little lucky, but got it done. Jim was playing fantastically.”
With the temperature touching 94 in the later stages of the second round with a heat index of 113, the tournament was as much a test of stamina as it was sklll. “Gosh, it is so hot,” Pfeil said. “Trying to keep your hands dry was a challenge, but the day was definitely playable, golf course was great, the competition was good and it was a lot of fun.”
In the Super Senior Division (at least 65-years-old), the 73-year-old Trittler surged to the first round lead with an even-par 72 and was unyielding with a second round two-over 74. Trittler found Lake Forest challenging, “There’s a lot of places that you can put yourself in trouble. You drive it well, you can score well. If you start missing fairways and hit it in the wrong spot, you can make some big numbers.”
Trittler also knows the heat and humidity can take a toll. “You just come out and give it your best in these conditions,” he said. “It’s a matter of survival, because this is as hot as I’ve played in in a long time.”
Dennis Osborne (Bogey Hills Country Club) trailed by four shots after Day 1, but slipped to fourth at 11 over. Dale Steinback (Westwood Country Club) shot 73 on Day 2 to claim second place at seven over. Both Trittler and Steinback qualify for the Jackson Invitational.
Trittler first won the Cassett in 2015 and followed with four consecutive titles covering 2017-2020. Defending champion Tony Brown did not compete.