June 20, 2012 7:00 a.m. CONNEAUT LAKE —
On Monday Gwen Paden was simply the woman who shot a hole-in-one on hole No. 6 during the 50th annual Oakland Beach Women’s Invitational.
She will now forever be known as an Oakland Beach Women’s Invitational champion.
Paden added her name to that prestigious list of golfers on Tuesday, a pinnacle for the Duncansville resident, who has spent most of 2012 recovering from a second back surgery and tendonitis.
“This is a really good feeling,” Paden said, “because I know I’ve had to fight back from a serious injury.”
It was also a pretty good feeling for Paden because of the amount of talent she had to surpass to win the title. Paden entered second day action a stroke back of leader Patti Nelis with a two-over par 78 and in a foursome with three previous champions.
That group included Nelis, the 2010 winner, last year’s winner Carolyn Thompson and five-time champion Lori Mort.
“They’ve all won this tournament,” Paden said. “I knew going in I was in an elite group and I definitely felt like the underdog.
“I told them, I said, ‘You all won this before, so back off.’”
The group certainly didn’t back off, and Paden knew she would need a stellar round to come out on top against some decorated golfers.
Earlier in the day it looked as though Nelis was going to hang on and become just the 11th golfer to win multiple OBWI titles in its 50-year existence. Nelis carded a two-over 38 on the front nine — two strokes better than Paden and Thompson and four strokes better than Mort, who had entered the final day three strokes back of Nelis.
But the back nine is where Paden, Thompson and Mort made their moves.
Nelis took the turn with a three-stroke lead over Paden with a 1 1/2-round total of 115. Paden birdied No. 10 and then had a two-stroke advantage over Nelis on No. 11 to draw even at 125.
Paden moved in front of Nelis on the leaderboard on No. 13 with an even-par on the 285-yard par-4 and hung on from there.
Paden finished with a two-day score of 156. Mort, Thompson and Nelis all finished at 158. Mort captured second place by virtue of a tiebreaker, while Thompson — who tied Becky Barnes with the second-round low of 77 — and Nelis were third and fourth, respectively.
“I’ve had a rough year with the back surgery and this (tendonitis) problem,” Paden said. “I have been playing bad. So this feels pretty good.”
Paden underwent back surgery in September and was unable to golf for six months. She would regularly golf six days a week.
Currently, Paden is restricted to just three days of golf a week. She maxed out her three days this week at the OBWI with its two-day tournament and practice round.
“I know I won’t play (today),” said Paden.
“I had back surgery two years ago and I went back to playing six days sometimes seven days a week. And in less than three years it was all undone.
“I went from two vertebraes fused to four and they may not be able to do anything else.”
Paden’s partners were happy to welcome another winner to the OBWI champions club.
“I said, ‘If one of us can’t win it then let’s have her — a new winner — win it,’” Nelis said.
Overall, Thompson, Nelis, Mort and Paden were happy to have had the opportunity to golf with one another again and are hoping for many more chances in the future.
“Carolyn has been one of my mentors in golf,” Nelis said. “I have golfed with her for years and she’s brought my game around.
“And I told Lori she’s my hero. I’ve golfed with her a couple of times in this tournament and she always puts things in perspective.”
The only real complaint came from Paden.
“I didn’t get a hole-in-one (yesterday),” she said with a big grin. “Oh well.”
Paden wasn’t the only big winner yesterday.
Nancy Bohman hung onto her Day 1 lead to win the AA Flight with a score of 82-89—171. There was also no change in the A Flight where Georgette Payne finished at 90-91—181 to take the title.
Bev Schulz moved up a spot to win the B Flight at 96-94—190. Flo Maxim captured the C Flight with a 96-97—193.
Local Sports
GOLF: One day after ace, Paden wins first OBWI title
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