FAST START: Jeremy DeBernardi’s opening-round 64 leads way to Berry Memorial championship

STREATOR — With a blazingly hot opening round not even the weekend-long rains could dampen, Jeremy DeBernardi on Saturday took control of the 41st edition of the Richard J. Berry Memorial Championships.

Another member of his closing-day foursome, former champion Rick Krumscheid, was hot on DeBernardi’s heels almost all of Sunday’s final round — trimming what started the day as an eight-stroke advantage down to four on the front nine and three on two occasions coming back in — but managed to get no closer.

DeBernardi became the 19th man to win the prestigious Berry Memorial Championship Flight title, following up his stellar Saturday 64 at his home course of Pine Hills with a solid 73 Sunday at The Eastwood to hold off a hard-charging Krumscheid and claim the big trophy.

“I work (at Pine Hills), I’m the superintendent there, and that’s one of the best rounds I’ve played there my whole life,” said DeBernardi. “That was one of my better rounds I’ve ever had, in a tournament especially. I missed a short putt on (No. 18) for what could have been a 63, but there was enough good that I balanced that out throughout the day.

“I played not too different (Sunday). I was having a hard time to get putts to fall ... but today was a day I was just trying to get pars and hold on, just don’t do anything stupid.”

DeBernardi (137) held a much more comfortable advantage coming into Sunday’s final round than during it. Right off the tee, Krumscheid (141) posted an eagle on the par-5 No. 1 to cut his deficit to six strokes, shaving it to four with a birdie on the par-3 No. 7.

The 2005 champion drew to within three strokes after play on No. 15 and 17, but DeBernardi — whose entire Sunday scorecard was filled with 3s, 4s and 5s, including eight straight 4s on the front nine — managed to post a 5 on the par-5 No. 18 to close out his first Berry title.

“I knew I had to make birdies, and that’s all I tried to do,” Krumscheid said. “I missed a good handful of putts under five feet, otherwise I’d be right there.

“But otherwise I’m really happy with how I hit the ball tee to green. Jeremy just held on and played, well, boring golf, which is what he had to do with a lead so big.”

While he never drew as close as Krumscheid, Patrick Guilfoyle (142) kept himself in the conversation by following up his Pine Hills 71 with another 71 at The Eastwood to finish third. The other member of Sunday’s final foursome, Brent Tkach, followed up his Saturday 72 with an 84 at The Eastwood to fall out of contention, while high schooler Drake Kaufmann (145) in the foursome ahead of them stormed his way up the leaderboard with a 71 Sunday to claim fourth.

Tony Muscato (150) was fifth, Chad Wahl (152) sixth, Tkach (156) seventh and Al Retoff (158) eighth to round out the main Championship Flight standings. (For other flight winners, see related story.)

[ JD Joanis, Paul Snook, Jimmy Park, Mitch Barton, Brian Watson, Charlie Monroe win Berry flight titles ]

The persistent rain throughout the weekend definitely affected play, though not terribly, and the tournament got in all 36 holes and for the most part ran on schedule.

And it certainly couldn’t precipitate on DeBernardi’s proverbial parade in a year many of the tournament’s recent champions did not compete due to other, out-of-state commitments.

“You just have to take your time, focus on taking the next shot,” DeBernardi said of playing through the rain.

“(Saturday’s 64) was a good round. That would’ve held up against about anybody, I think. I’m happy with my performance. I think I would’ve done well if those other guys were here too. ...

“Next year.”