By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – What is the exact definition of an “old man?” That depends entirely on the perspective. The United Nations considers old age to be marked at 60-plus years. To the Generation Z crowd, the young 20-somethings with no life experience, 30 seems destined for the nursing home, the beginning of the end. One of these days, they will know better.
Aaron Harrell is neither ancient or decrepit, not yet. His golf swing shows no sign of age, nor do his scores. He might feel like an “older fart” at age 42, when compared to his challengers atop the Bedford Men’s City Tournament leaderboard, but he has two things the fearless, long-hitting Gen Zers lack: five championships, and the wisdom that comes with those titles.
With patience, following the quote from David Mamet (“Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance”) as a guide, Harrell climbed to the top spot, sharing it with young gun Nick Bellush, at the halfway point. Harrell and Bellush finished 36 holes at 5-under 139, two shots in front of defending champion Colten Girgis, after two impressive turns of Otis Park.
Bellush carded Sunday’s best score with a 4-under 68, while Harrell carved out a steady 71 to vault in front. While they avoided major problems, Girgis valiantly battled through another attack of the dreaded “shanks” for a wild-ride 70, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the second weekend of the City marathon.
Harrell’s round was a testament to a veteran’s ability to compete without his best stuff. He carded four birdies to offset three bogeys (on the third, eighth and 15th holes, the toughest trio on the course).
“It was an up-and-down day, one where I didn’t really know where the ball was going at times, especially with the driver,” Harrell said. “But I’m very happy with the day. I try to never get too up or too down. You shoot what you shoot, then you come back next weekend and do it again.
“It’s about being OK with making a bogey, not getting too upset that it turns into another bogey. It’s taking what is given, and moving on. It’s staying pretty even and trying to hit the best shot I can.”
Bellush was on point, conquering all the par-fives and adding short birdies on the 13th and 16th holes. Nothing spectacular, just extremely solid until a three-putt bogey from 25 feet on the final green marred a near-perfect day. His strength is mid-iron play, which fits well on the par-fives and par-threes.
“All in all, it was a good day, just did what I had to do,” Bellush said.
Those rounds were dull and boring when compared to the tumultuous adventure of Girgis. He parred only eight holes, so there were plenty of circles and squares (denoting birdies, bogeys and others) on his busy scorecard.
His rough journey started with a shanked iron shot off the third tee, leading to a double bogey. He responded with a sensational surge, playing the next four holes in 5-under, highlighted by an eagle on the fifth. On the back nine, misfortune struck again with a shanked shot over the road (out of bounds) on the 16th, leading to another double. Once again, he answered with a champion’s grit, posting birdies on the final two holes. Playing with some fiery anger seemed to fit him well.
“It was quite the interesting day,” Girgis said. “My dad calls it ‘Fits of greatness and fits of despair.’ Over the last couple days, I’ve lost seven shots due to shanks.
“You just have to accept that the shank happened, be a little more mindful about my iron shots, and move on to the next shot. Overall, outside of iron and wedge shots, I putted and chipped it well. And I think there’s a certain mentality you have to have after you hit a shank. All I could really do is laugh at myself afterward. But it took a lot of willpower to get the ball from my approach onto the green this week.”
Connor Byon, another former Bloomington South standout, made a great move with a 69 (including a hot 32 on the back nine) after bogeying the first two holes, and he finished three shots off the pace at 2-under 142.
Other first-round leaders fell back. Daylen Tidd triple-bogeyed the ninth hole and never recovered while posting a 78 for a two-day total of 145, and Michael Lewis (69 in the first round) slipped with a 78 and 147 total.
So there’s still plenty of drama and possibilities for the final two rounds, most notably Harrell’s chase for a sixth title, a level very few in City history have reached.
”It’s way too early,” Harrell said. “These young kids hit it really far. I can’t hit it that far. I’m not expecting to win, I’m just looking forward to a fun weekend, watching these guys hit it. I will be the shortest person in the group, I will be hitting first after the drive all the time.”
Bellush will be attempting to etch his name in City lore and add to the family legacy.
“It would be cool to win it the same year my dad (J.T.) won the Senior City,” he said. “It’s still going to be a good fight next weekend.”
The field will be flighted for the final two rounds, which are set for July 18-19.
