How to go
What: Fairfield City Championship men's golf tournament
When: Saturday-Sunday
Where: Fairfield Greens South Trace
Note: Play begins at noon each day.
FAIRFIELD — Jeff Sullivan routed the rest of the field to capture last year’s Fairfield City Championship men’s golf tournament.
The 2009 event, set for Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, at Fairfield Greens South Trace, figures to be a much tighter fight, and not just because numerous former champions are participating.
Sullivan, 24, has cut down his playing this summer due to tendinitis in his left wrist.
“I’m kind of up in the air every time I tee it up,” said Sullivan, a 2004 Fairfield High School graduate. “I’ve played probably about half as much as I did last summer. I just kind of pick and choose, try to keep it fresh.”
Playing clearly doesn’t help his wrist. Asked what does help, Sullivan replied, “Rest, ice and a lot of ibuprofen.”
He shot a tournament-record 66-63—129 last summer, besting his good friend T.J. Wilson by 10 strokes. That duo will be joined by Brad Mitchell and Mike Brown in the first group on the front nine Saturday, and Mitchell could be the man to beat.
The 26-year-old broke the course record by two shots Monday, firing a 10-under-par 60.
“It’s pretty sweet — it’s not really sunk all the way in yet,” said Mitchell, a 2001 Fairfield graduate. “I’ve been trying to do it for a long time, and it just happened. I birdied the last six holes to shoot 10-under. T.J. played professional golf for three years, and he said he’d never seen anything like it.”
So will Mitchell, the 2000 city champion, be wearing the bull’s-eye this weekend?
“I don’t know, but I’m real excited about it,” he said. “I’m pretty confident about the golf course. I’m putting pretty well right now, and if you want to shoot a score like that, you’ve got to make a lot of putts.”
Sullivan is looking forward to 36 holes of golf with his friends.
“That’s pretty much the only reason to play,” he said. “To me, the trophy and prizes are important, but it’s more about the friendly competition and bragging rights.”
Fairfield pro Dave Hartman said the tournament will have more than 100 golfers spaced over four flights. Tee times begin at noon Saturday and Sunday, and spectators are encouraged to attend. There will be a cookout (spectators must pay to eat) both days around 5 p.m.
“I’ve been here 17 years, and this is by far the best I’ve ever seen the golf course,” said Hartman, crediting course superintendent Greg Morrow. “I say that without hesitation.”
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