Norwich — Twenty years removed from winning his only Norwich Invitational championship flight title, Jim Sowders still possesses a healthy dose of optimism on tournament weekend.

Now 62, Sowders always believes entering qualifying round play that he has a shot at winning another title.

But he's also realistic.

"Every time I play this I think I do (have a chance)," Sowders said with a smile. "I don't, but I think I do."

Sowders has good reason to be optimistic. He's had his share of success in the Norwich Invitational, which teed off for the 93rd time Friday at Norwich Golf Course.

In fact, he's believed to be the only person to win each of the seven flights — from the championship down to the sixth flight — in tournament history. A long-time Norwich member, he's played in 33 of the last 34 Norwich Invitationals.

"My handicap got lower and I got better and I worked my way up," Sowders said. "The last one I won was the first flight and it was about 10 years ago. I lost a lot flights. I've been doing this for over 30 years."

It will be difficult for anyone to match Sowders' feat, according to Norwich pro Mike Svab.

"That's an incredible thing," Svab said. "Not only do you have to be in the seven of them, you have to win. It's a unique thing. It may never be done. It's kinda neat."

What makes Sowders happy is playing in the Norwich Invitational every summer. His mood usually doesn't reflect his score.

No matter his final tally, he remains upbeat, especially competing in his favorite annual amateur event.

"I just love playing in this tournament," Sowders said. "There's not another one around here for amateurs that you can do this. It's just fun."

For the record, Sowders fired a very respectable 4-over 75 in Friday's qualifying round, ending up in the First Flight for the second straight year. He stood at 1-over through 14 before finishing with a double bogey, bogey and par, so he was hoping for something better. Then again, he says, he always is.

When asked if he remembered every one of his flight title wins in his career, Sowders responded no.

Then he added: "I remember that one," pointing to his name on the championship board inside the Norwich clubhouse.

In 1999, Sowders survived the heat and a difficult field to capture the championship flight. He went extra holes in two early matches, including rallying from 2-down with two holes to go and beating Dale Smith on the 20th hole. He knocked off tough customer Brian Bardier, winning the semifinal by sinking a short putt on the 18th, and defeated two-time champion Kevin Flanagan, 4 and 3, in the final.

It was a special moment for Sowders.

"I looked at all these people on the board and I just felt great," Sowders said.

If not for a motorcycle accident in May 2008 in Groton, his streak of playing in the Norwich Invitational would be even longer than it is.

Even that year, he managed to recover enough from his injuries — a collapsed lung, broken jaw, broken pelvis, fractured fourth and fifth vertebrae and torn bladder — after spending two weeks in the hospital and four weeks undergoing rehabilitation to be a spectator at the tournament.

"I came here and watched," Sowders said. "That's it."

Now the real fun begins with the 111 remaining golfers beginning unpredictable match play on Saturday and culminating with Sunday afternoon's final.

Competition for qualifying round medalist honors came down to 2017 champion Josh Cameron, former UConn golfer Nick Harrington and Austin Cilley of Lake of Isles. They all fired a 5-under 66.

Cilley earned the No. 1 seed, while defending champion Chris DeLucia automatically received the No. 2 seed, Harrington is No. 3 and Cameron No. 4. Eight of the 16 players in the championship flight are Norwich Golf Course members.

Seven golfers finished under par, including multiple Invite champion Steve Gambeski (4-under 67), Todd Lavoie (3-under 68), Corey Jones (2-under 69) and Sean Vigue (1-under 70).

This weekend's projected sizzling hot weather should make for an interesting and uncomfortable final two days, to say the least.

Cameron embraces the weather.

"I just go with it," Cameron said. "I enjoy the feeling of walking down the fairway and all the heat radiating off you. I think it feels good. I'm like a solar panel."

Cameron generated his own heat, shooting a sizzling qualifying round score that was one stroke behind his best competitive round at his home course. He piled up six birdies, including five on the front nine. and an eagle on No. 12. He also drove the ball "incredibly long and straight."

g.keefe@theday.com