HANOVER – On a day when a wave of Upper Valley golfers swept into the 40th Tommy Keane Invitational semifinals arguably the finest golfer to come out of an area high school reflected on what the event has meant to him.
Lebanon grad Rich Parker teed it up in the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah and Senior Open, cashed a check at the PGA Tour’s Bank of Boston Classic, challenged for his card at “Q School,” won the Trinidad Open to earn a spot in the Gene Sarazen World Open, took the Hogan Tour’s 1991 Boise Open to a playoff, hung with Ernie Els on the South African Tour as a young gun and won just about everything you can around New England.
All that, and winning the 1981 Tommy Keane Invitational remains one of his most cherished golf memories.
Parker told the dinner crowd at the TKI as much Friday night. He reiterated those feelings after walking a few holes watching old friends and new faces Saturday afternoon.
“This a very special tournament,” said Parker, who teamed with Laffy Lahaye to win the seventh TKI in 1981 after his freshman year at Plymouth State. “You think of all the names. (Don) Beckwith. (Will) Volz. (Don) Folsom. (John) Donnelly. (Art) Bemis. (Jerry Daly). Those are some great names and the list goes on and on.”
Parker won just one TKI title, but it is still talked about and remembered warmly by the Dartmouth men’s golf coach.
“Golf is an individual sport and you don’t get to win a lot with your buddies,” he said. “We didn’t win a lot in college, hardly ever actually. So that was an unbelievable win for me and Laf. Even for the friendship it was so cool.”
Legend has it that Lahaye helped the future pro on just one hole per round. While he didn’t dispute the story Parker appreciated Lahaye’s contribution to the cause.
“He helped every 18,” said Parker with a laugh. “I know he birdied 14 against Gibson and Goodrow. I don’t remember what he did against Bemis and Donnelly but he did something. And then in the championship match he pitched in with a 7-iron over the humps on 17. The place went berserk.”
Parker wrapped up his remarks Friday night with a touching acknowledgement of what Tommy Keane – the son of the former Hanover pro – has meant to him. The two shared a few moments under the tent Saturday.
“I’ve had a wonderful relationship with TK,” said Parker of the octogenarian who is dealing with health issues. “He’s always been great to me.
“I hadn’t seen him in a while so I’m glad I had a chance to see him out here. He’s a great man.”
SATURDAY ROUNDUP
The Championship flight went according to form Saturday as the 1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds advanced to Sunday’s all-Upper Valley semifinals.
Former Hartford teammates Zach Temple and Mak Lyford posted a 4&3 win in their morning match and then took a 3&1 win over onetime Hanover and Providence College player Dean Cashman and Chris Hynes.
Awaiting Temple and Lyford are young turks Nate Choukas and Benny Hayes, another pair of Hanover High collegians who lived up to their fourth seed by winning their morning match, 2&1, and following with a 1-up win over Henry and Jim McGannon.
On the other side of the bracket defending champions Shane and Nick MacDonald of Lebanon took a pair of 4&3 wins, the second against Scott Peters and Andy Hydorn.
The second-seeded MacDonalds will play third-seeded Jake Obar and Bill Vielleux. The former standout athletes at Hartford won their morning match 1 up and then needed 19 holes to outlast Chris Taylor and Patrick Norden to set up the showdown with the MacDonalds.
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