Patkin youngest-ever club champion at Kernwood

SWAMPSCOTT – Alex Patkin loves to golf. He also loves to play baseball. If you asked him a week or so ago what his favorite sport is, he probably would have had a tough time choosing between the two. This week, however, golf reigns supreme.The 16-year-old Swampscott High junior is riding high after after winning the Kernwood Country Club Men’s Club Championship last weekend, just days after he had taken home the Junior Club Championship.The accomplishment also earned him a spot in the club record books as the youngest men’s champion. The title had been held by 22-year-old Harry Bane, who won it when he was 19. Bane is currently in his final semester at Middlebury College, where he is a member of the golf team.The men’s championship tournament spanned the last two weekends, with the junior tournament sandwiched in the middle.”I wasn’t even sure I was going to play in the men’s club tournament,” Patkin said. “But after the qualifying rounds, when I knew I made it, I figured I had nothing to lose. No one was expecting me to do well. It was tough competition, but I pulled through.”Patkin shot a 78 in the first round two weekends ago and followed it up with an 80 the second day, tying him for sixth place, with the top eight advancing. After a playoff, Patkin ended up in seventh place, which meant he faced No. 2 seed John Yorks, who has a one handicap.”It was a very close match,” Patkin said, adding that the key for him was not having any double bogeys, keeping the ball in play and hitting a lot of fairways.Patkin faced Dave Bossman, also a one handicap, in the semifinals, and this one was a battle as well. Bossman had birdied five holes in his previous round. Patkin, who had three birdies, won the match on the 17th hole. He shot a 72 and Bossman a 74.The win put Patkin in the final Sunday, where he faced Robert Ogen. The two played 36 holes, match play. Patkin was up by two holes after the first 18, but Ogen closed the gap in the final round. Patkin had a chance to win it on the 17th hole. He needed to two-putt for the win, but he three-putted. He pulled out the win on the 18th hole. Ogen missed a putt that would have tied the match and Patkin ended up bogeying the hole.”I just thought it was a great experience,” Patkin said. “It was really an exciting feeling to win this tournament. It means a lot to me.”The Junior Club Championship was held last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Patkin shot an 82 Tuesday to finish first, with the top four advancing. He played the No. 4 seed and won 9-and-7, and then won the final on Thursday, shooting a 33 on the front nine to win 7-and-6.Although summer golf is winding down, Patkin won’t be putting the clubs away anytime soon. He volunteers with the Special Olympic golf program run at Lakeview Country Club, and this fall, he’ll be playing varsity golf at Swampscott High. Patkin also plays basketball, although last year he opted to do indoor track instead.