Walecka, Belanger knocked off two-time defending CCNB Four-Ball champs in quest for 3-peat

DARTMOUTH — Golf was the last thing on Kim Walecka’s mind this week.

In the midst of selling her house and buying a new one in making the move from Dartmouth to Mattapoisett, she had more pressing things to contend with.

"On Monday I closed on the house I was living in," Walecka said. "On Tuesday, I had to make a closing at 1 o’clock so I ran out of here. Had the movers on Wednesday and I’ve been unpacking boxes so I haven’t stayed for lunch. I haven’t been able to think about anything other than the house."

Settled in her new home, Walecka focused entirely on golf on Friday as she and partner Denise Belanger captured the 2024 Country Club of New Bedford Women’s Four-Ball championship.

After losing in the finals a year ago to Susan Sylvia and Christine Torpey , Walecka and Belanger won 1-up on the 18th hole on Friday to knock off the two-time defending champs and deny them a historic third straight title.

“They were going for the three-peat,” said Walecka, a certified registered nurse. “Not that I didn’t want them to get it, but I’m glad that we won. That's a lot of pressure for them too. It’s never been done before, but they played great today. It was just good golf.”

Sylvia and Torpey were down two after nine holes and won the 10 ^th hole to pull within one, but could only halve the next eight holes.

“I was very happy with the way I played,” Sylvia said. “I’ve been struggling all summer so get to the finals again and down to the 18 ^th hole, I can’t be too disappointed. We were really trying to make history this week, but I’m just happy we made it back to the finals.”

Torpey said there was much more pressure this year than the previous years.

Surviving a scare: Two-time defending champs punch ticket to semifinals on 18th hole

“We did have a big target on our backs after winning two years in a row,” she said. “It’s hard to make it back to the finals, but when you get here, you want to take it all the way.

“We needed to get it back to even and I thought on 16 we were going to be able to do that, but clutch players like Kim and Denise get in there and do a good job. It was a great tournament.”

It was the first championship for Walecka and Belanger as partners in their third year together. Walecka had won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014 with Rosemary Zehntner while Belanger captured the 2015 Four-Ball with JoAnn Squillante.

“It’s always very special winning the Four-Ball,” said Belanger, a member of Acushnet River Valley and former teacher. “My partner was phenomenal. I’m happy for her.”

Down the stretch, Walecka came up with one big putt after another.

“My game is probably the best it’s ever been,” she said. “I’m in form right now. It just happened that I’m playing some of the best golf at the right time. It feels good.”

More: This year's CCNB Women's Four-Ball finals will be a repeat of 2023

CCNB WOMEN'S FOUR-BALL RESULTS

2024 Champions: Kim Walecka & Denise Belanger

2024 Runner-Ups: Sue Sylvia & Chris Torpey

Semi Finalist Winners: Deb Hynes & Terry Garrett

Semi Finalist Runners-up: Rochelle Pelletier & Sue Rebeiro

Consolation Winners: Barbara Young & Beppie Huidekoper

Consolation Runners-Up: Barbara Grunkemeyer & Sandra Tillett

First Division Winners: Barbara Pierce & Rennae VanHorn

First Division Runners-Up: Heidi Bettencourt & Anneli Valm

Special 4 Winners: Carlin Moroney & Sharon Woodward

Special 4 Runners-Up: Sandra Cummings & Wanda Wall

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Walecka, Belanger knocked off two-time defending CCNB Four-Ball champs in quest for 3-peat