Wildwood G&CC’s Foster triumphs in Spring Net Championship

CAPE MAY CT. HOUSE, N.J. – Bruce Foster of Wildwood G&CC triumphed on his home course Thursday.

  He carded a net 6-under-par 66 to take the Spring Net Championship. The Mays Landing, N.J. resident overcame the 51-player field at Wildwood G&CC (par 72, 6,200 yards) to earn his first GAP title.

  “It feels wonderful,” he said. “I haven’t played much this year because of family health issues. This was only my seventh round out here.”

  A consistent short game carried Foster’s play.

  “I didn’t hit a green in regulation, but I had eight one-putts,” he said. “Chipping and putting were key for me.”

  Foster, 67, opened his round with back-to-back bogeys, but leveled his play by executing four consecutive pars. He ran into trouble on the par 4, 350-yard No. 7. His approach 5-wood caught the greenside bunker, and Foster failed to get up-and-down for par. On No. 8 (par 4, 378 yards), his 5-wood provided an unfortunate encore as it left Foster in the left-side trees. Standing on a tree’s roots, he attempted to punch out with a pitching wedge, but it drifted 40 yards. The 19-handicapper proceeded to card a double bogey.

  Foster fired a net birdie on No. 10 (par 3, 180 yards). His 3-wood settled 25-feet above the flagstick, and he then two-putted for a net red figure. Foster ended his round with a net birdie on No. 18 (par 4, 365 yards). He laced a 3-wood 185 yards and two-putted from the collar of the green.

  The Spring Net Championship, formerly known as the First Handicap Tournament, is open to players 18 years of age and older with handicap index less than 36.0. The event began in 1946.