»RELATED: Tourette Syndrome doesn’t slow down Cedarville golfer
Parsons, a retired urologist, has been a member of Springfield Country Club, the host of this year’s tournament, for 38 years. He joked that the combined age of his two playing partners in Tuesday’s first round was less than 38. He was almost right.
Parsons is a 15-time club champion and won the Ohio Senior Amateur at SCC in 2006 by seven shots. The Ohio Golf Association granted him a special exemption to play in this year’s tournament. The competitor in him just wishes he’d played more like the 70 and 72 he shot on the course in recent days. Instead, Parsons struggled to an 85 with three hooked drives and a few uncharacteristic shanks.
“I think they felt sorry for me,” he said. “I wish I’d played a little better to make their exemption worthwhile, but that’s the way it is.”
»RELATED: Portz thanks Springfield for helping him reach first PGA Tour event
Clark Engle, who won a high school state title at Shawnee and just finished a four-year career at Ohio State, is two shots off the lead after a 1-under-par 69. He’s a member at SCC and said he sees Parsons practicing on the range almost every day.
“I love Chuck — he’s a grinder,” Engle said. “He’s out here every day just about as much as I am. He’s just got a huge passion for the game. I was excited to see him get to play.”
Parsons' family had a country club membership when he was young. He learned to play golf and tennis, but the seasons coincided in high school. He chose tennis and won a state title for Springfield North in 1966. Elwood Pitzer, who coached Springfield High to the 1950 state basketball championship, was his tennis coach. Don Henderson, who recently died, was his basketball coach.
“Elwood Pitzer was probably one of the greatest men I’ve ever met in my life,” Parsons said. “He was a real role model. And Don Henderson was a great guy as well.”
It was Parsons’ mom, however, who taught him to be a competitor. As a 5-foot-6, 135-pound senior he was “mean and fast.” After medical school and residency, Parsons returned to Springfield in 1979 and got serious about golf. His handicap dropped from 10 to 2 in two years and he won his first club championship in 1981.
“It’s a crazy game, it’s a game you can’t ever master and it’s a real challenge,” he said. “It’s a never-ending battle to try to get better and unfortunately sometimes when you try to get better you get worse. But that’s part of trying to get better.”
Parsons wanted to go to the range after he finished his round and fix his swing. But the skies looked threatening. He will surely make time before today’s second round to make sure he shoots a respectable score today even if making the cut is unlikely.
“I have to try figure out what I was doing wrong and try not to do it again,” he said. “It was scary. I’ve never really had that.”
Engle trails the four leaders who shot 67, Jeff Scohy of Bellbrook, Camden Solomon of Dublin, Austin Sipe of Centerville and Brennen Walsh of Cincinnati. Four others shot 68. Engle said he’s been struggling since spring, but that Tuesday was a solid round.
“I’m trying to have a few less thoughts on the course and swing a little more free,” he said. “I didn’t hit the ball great today, but my short game was good and saved some pars when I needed to.”
The tournament continues through Friday. The top 60 and ties will advance to the third round. The top 40 and ties will then advance to the final round.
About the Author