By Tim Schmitt
A recent batch of unseasonably warm weather has given Lewiston’s Fred Silver more than just reason to smile when he’s left his home. It’s given the nationally ranked senior golfer a chance to get some practice holes in.
After a big win in the inaugural Chechessee Creek Senior Invitational in Okatie, S.C., Silver has jumped to No. 7 in the Golfweek/Titleist senior amateur rankings. That puts the Niagara Falls Country Club member on pace for his best season ever, and with two tournaments left on the schedule, Silver is even hoping to crack the nation’s top five.
“This is the highest I’ve ever been ranked, and the best position I’ve ever been in this late in the year,” said Silver, whose top previous season finish was 13th.
At Chechessee Creek, Silver got off to a scorching start, shooting the tournament’s only round in the 60s on the opening day.
“I almost played a perfect 18 holes for me,” he said. “I hardly missed a shot. I missed no putts of less than four feet.”
Although he slipped back with a 75 on the second day, Silver was still a shot off the lead heading into the final round. He plugged a shot in bunker on the seventh hole and took a double-bogey, but fought back with a pair of birdies to get even for the day.
“I was just trying to play well. I put the double behind me and kept playing,” he said.
Silver edged Michael Jackson and Robert Shelton for the win, hitting a short, but tricky downhill putt on the 18th hole to secure the win.
“It was very gratifying,” he said. “You don’t win very often. To be able to finish like that was great.”
Silver’s solid play has him excited about the final two events of the year — the Golfweek Senior Tour Championship on Dec. 11 and the Ralph Bogart Championship the following week. He’s been sneaking in practice on warm afternoons, although Thursday’s rain didn’t afford him time to work on his game.
“I feel good. I’ve been able to play and get nine holes in here and there,” Silver said. “If the weather stays good, and I can keep hitting a few shots, I should be in good shape.
“I’d like to top 10 for the year, since 13th is my best finish, but if I play really well, I could get up to fifth. That would be pretty good.”
