Frank Katsinis wins second straight NWIGC senior title
By Mike Hutton 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com June 10, 2012 8:26PM
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Updated: July 12, 2012 6:12AM
MERRILLVILLE — Frank Katsinis couldn’t have imagined the route his ball would have had to take to fall into the hole on No. 12 from off the green.
Katsinis rarely misses in places that make it impossible for him to get up-and-down for par.
On No. 12, he executed the unforgiveable tee shot. He pulled his wedge left above the pin, which was resting in the back left corner, about three paces on the green.
He was in jail — without any chance for bail — about 99 times out of a 100.
His putt, from off the green, over the cart path, through the fringe and finally into the cup after resting on the lip of it for about two seconds, was the near miracle he needed.
That birdie propelled Katsinis to a three-stroke victory over Mike Fourney in the senior division of the Northwest Indiana Golf Classic on Sunday at Turkey Creek. He finished with a 71 after carding a 73 in the opening round.
“That was amazing,” Marv Selby, one of his playing partners, said.
Said Katsinis: “Sometimes you get lucky. That was a weird shot.”
It was also deflating for anyone trying to make a run at him.
Fourney had turned the back nine tied with Katsinis after finishing the front nine even par, but he started out double bogie and bogie. He felt like he got some momentum back when he made a 35-footer for birdie on No. 12 right in front of Katsinis.
Selby had actually taken the lead on No. 11 after he made birdie and Katsinis made bogie.
But the putt turned the whole tournament around. Selby had dumped his ball into the water and Frank Filipiak, who was making a charge, had also short sided himself on No. 12. He finished with a triple bogie on the hole.
After Katsinis made the two on No. 12, he drilled his approach on No. 13 to within six inches.
Katsinis, who also won the senior division last year, knows how to close. He played for the fat of the greens on the way in, coasting to victory.
“It’s alright, “ he said. ”You compete and try to hang in there and when you pull it off, it feels good.”
