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Victory times three

Nunneley, Lahner pull off three-peat at City Open

News Photo by James Andersen Courtney Nunneley and Tom Lahner pose with their City Open championship trophies after they both pulled off a tournament three-peat on Sunday. Nunneley is a perfect 3-for-3 since first playing in the tournament in 2017 and Lahner won his fifth title in six years.

Courtney Nunneley and Tom Lahner just on keep winning.

The two of them pulled off a three-peat at the 52nd annual City Open on Sunday and were back in a familiar spot, hoisting the tournament’s championship trophies at the end of the two-day tournament which started at River’s Edge Golf Club on Saturday and wrapped up Sunday at Alpena Golf Club.

Nunneley won her third title and Lahner easily took home his fifth title.

Since she began playing in the tournament in 2017, Nunneley is a perfect 3-for-3 in the City Open. She won Sunday with a gross score of 166 (85-81) to become the only women’s champion to pull off a three-peat since the women’s tournament began in 1972.

“I think it’s an honor. I have a great time playing out here,” Nunneley said of her win. “I get to play with all the different women out here. They’re a lot older than I am, but I learn from them.”

News Photo by James Andersen Flight winners pose with their trophies after the 52st annual City Open. Pictured from left to right are: Betty Eastway (women’s championship flight low net winner); Jim Micks (men’s first flight winner); Courtney Nunneley (women’s champion); Tom Lahner (men’s champion) and Dick Boyce (men’s senior flight winner).

A year after winning her second title in a blistering heat at River’s Edge, Nunneley was consistent again this year and began Sunday’s round in cooler temperatures with a three-stroke lead in gross score.

“It was (comfortable); not too hot, not to cold. I was comfortable in the tank top and shorts I’m wearing,” Nunneley said. “Perfect weather the entire time; sunny, no rain and that’s always a good thing.”

Nunneley is already third all-time in women’s City Open wins behind Sue Geyer (7) and Gisela Schreier and Sue Peterson-Tuohy (4 each).

Nunneley saw her hard work pay off Sunday. This summer, she’s played golf every day at River’s Edge along with putting in time on the range and working on putting.

“It means a lot (to win),” Nunneley said. “It shows how much hard work I put into it and it allows people to see that I put a lot of tine into it.”

Betty Eastway was the women’s low net winner with 144 and Vicky Lindsay finished with 145.

Lahner is only the third men’s champion–along with Jim Boynton and Bill Peterson–to win thee years in a row–and secured his fifth title in six years after shooting 70-68-138, well ahead of Nathan Swinson’s two-day total of 149 (76-73).

Lahner was the only men’s championship flight golfer to shoot under par on Saturday at River’s Edge and opened up a sizable lead over his closest competitors. He began Sunday’s round with a six-stroke lead over Swinson and finished four under-par at Alpena Golf Club.

“I played steady. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes and the mistakes I did make didn’t cost me much,” Lahner said. “I putted well, I drove the ball well and hit my irons well.”

Since 2014, Lahner has won the City Open five times and finished second once. He knows what it takes to win, but acknowledged there’s pressure trying to play up to the level others expect of him and also to fend off challengers every year.

He also beat Swinson last year and won by seven strokes.

“Absolutely (there’s pressure). If you don’t feel it then you shouldn’t be here,” Lahner said. “Every one is special. I don’t play a lot of golf, so I just want to make the best of when I do play. All the guys around here are gunning for me, so it makes it that much more difficult and more special to win.”

John Hoos finished third in the championship flight with 154 and Todd Skiba, Tony Crabtree and Phil Straley each shot a 155.

Jim Micks won the men’s first flight with a 139 and Dick Boyce won the men’s senior flight with a 158.

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