By Kim J. Harmon

George Wilson has only been a member of the Newtown Country Club for three years – and, yet, has already won two club championships.

Nancy Belanger has seen Sherry Buczek win the club championship year in and year out – except for, that is, the last two years.

It seems like the seat of power at the Newtown Country Club has been taken over for the time being and the two champions are liking how comfortable it feels.

“Sherry always wins,” said Belanger, who won her first ever NCC title last year in a battle with Buczek, “and I thought last year was a fluke. And I said, ‘please God, let me do it again.’ Well, let’s be honest – I was on and she was off.”

Maybe Belanger was on because she was still sharp from capturing a first flight championship at Richter Park in Danbury. It was a two-day, stroke play, tournament and Belanger simply shot lights out.

“I’m having my best year ever!” she said.

She practiced quite a bit this year, but gives a tremendous amount of credit to her caddy – Sue Paulin.

“Oh, I practiced a lot this year with my chipping and my putting,” said Belanger, “but I had the best caddy in the world. I can’t even quote some of the things she would say to me. But, really, it was “keep your head down’ and ‘commit to your club.’ She really kept my moral up.”

Belanger defeated Buczek, 3 and 2, closing out the match on the 16th hole.

For Wilson, this was the latest in a string of club championships he began collected soon after getting out of school. He captured five club championships at Racebrook Country Club in Orange and then won four championships at Pine Orchard Country Club in Branford.

This is his second at Newtown Country Club and he had to out-duel a strong field to win it.

“I played pretty well,” he said. “Nothing too outrageous. Lots of pars and a few birdies. Medal play (at NCC) is tough because competitors can make birdies and eagles and make up a lot of ground very quickly. No lead is good enough.”

Joe Masso came in second in the 36-hole championship flight, seven strokes off the pace.

“This is a very interesting course,” said Wilson. “You look at the scorecard and think you will just eat it up, but you have to be accurate and if you don’t hit the greens you’re going to have trouble getting up and down. It rewards course maintenance.”

Belanger and Wilson were pretty sharp with their course maintenance – not to mention their woods, irons and putters – and have shiny, new club championship trophies to prove it.

MEN: Championship flight – 1. George Wilson 137, 2. Joe Masso 144; First flight – 1. Bob Chamberland 154, Walt Gebert Sr. 157; Second flight – 1. John Grimardi 170, 2. (tie) Chip Dimon and Dan Murphy 171; Third flight – 1. Jeff Parker 171, 2. Don Argersinger 174.

WOMEN: Nancy Belanger defeated Sherry Buczek, 3 and 2.