Bill Hermanson won his 26th Black Hall men’s club championship last weekend.

That’s right, 26 titles. 

No one in the area can even come close to that number of club championship wins. 

What’s even more impressive is Hermanson has won at least one title in each of the last six decades. He captured his first championship in 1978. 

“Pretty cool!” Black Hall pro Andrew Campbell said in an email about the accomplishment. 

From 1981 through 1999, Hermanson dominated the men’s club event, winning 19 straight. 

Then Phil Perry finally ended Hermanson’s winning streak in 2000. 

Perry and Hermanson are good friends and frequent playing partners. 

The pair met in last weekend’s scheduled 36-hole final, with Hermanson posting a 6 and 5 victory. Tom Dolan and Jeff Riley advanced to the semifinals before losing. 

A long-time member, Perry has been pretty darn successful as well, earning 10 club championships. 

It’s a safe bet that either one of the two, or both, will at the very least reach the final again next year. They’ve combined to capture 36 of the last 42 titles dating back to 1978.

Last year was an exception, as Brian Zito took home the crown. 

Tori Langen also is on quite a successful run in the women’s club championship competition. She won her ninth title by beating Debra Miller last weekend. Betsy Lomas and Beth Rodgers reached the semifinals. 

Short putts 

• Four of the top six finishers at the recent 33rd Connecticut Mid-Amateur Championship held at Madison Country Club came from area courses. 

Jeff Riley of Black Hall led the way with a third-place finish, posting a three-round total of 2-over 212 (72-67-73). Austin Cilley of Lake of Isles placed fourth at 3-over 213 (69-73-71) while Josh Cameron of Shennecossett took fifth at 6-over 216 (70-71-75) and Justin Beal of Fox Hopyard was sixth at 7-over 217 (73-75-69). 

Ben Conroy of New Haven Country Club defeated Cody Paladino of the Country Club of Farmington in a two-hole playoff for the title. 

• Philip Krick of the Mohegan Sun Country Club was the top local finisher at the Connecticut Section Championship last week at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford. He tied for 16th with a 6-over 150 (72-78). Kevin Shea of Great Neck Country Club tied for 20th at 153 (75-78) 

Chris Tallman of The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass., won the tournament with a 5-under 139 (69-70). He qualified for the 54th PGA Professional Championship in Florida in April.

• Old Lyme Country Club recently crowned its women’s club champion, as Hollis Barry of Essex defended her title by beating Michelle Abraham of Old Lyme. With the match tied through 17 holes, Barry secured the win with a bogey on the final hole. 

In the nine-hole competition, Lynn Edwards defeated Patty Kurlansky in a tight match. 

The men’s club championship will be decided on Monday. Mitchell Etess has won the last three titles. 

• Monday is Championship Day at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford. Finals will be held in a number of different club events. 

Prior to the weekend, Eric Bergstrom, Ryan Brahm, John Huhn, Austin Free, Matt Fuller, Pete Gonski, Tim Haggerty and Marco Frausini qualified for the quarterfinals in the men’s club championship competition. 

Bergstrom won his fifth title last season.

Caroline Petchark, Jane Buglione, Karen Anderson and Ruth Parylak reached the women’s club championship semifinals. Anderson, a three-time club champion, has appeared in seven straight finals. 

The final matches will tee off Monday morning, with the men playing 36 holes and the women 18 holes. 

Jeff Stefanski will face Mark Toscano in the men’s senior club championship. 

• Petchark, who’s from Waterford, competed in the Hartford Women’s Open. She tied for 15th with a 13-over 153, shooting rounds of 77 and 76 at Goodwin Park Golf Course in Hartford. The tournament took place on Aug 22 and Aug. 23. 

Angela Garvin of Feeding Hills, Mass, won the event with a 3-under 137. 

• Corey Jones of Shennecossett, Will Machnicki of River Ridge, Tim Haggerty, Andrew Cavasino, Tim Arsenault and James O’Neill of Great Neck, Tony Susi of Mohegan Sun and Hermanson of Black Hall will play in the 15th Tournament of Champions at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club on Tuesday in South Kent. 

• The foursome of Bo McBee, Will McBee, Todd O’Donnell and John Curtis combined to win the 31st Annual Groton Long Point Stearns Martin Open on Aug. 24 at Richmond (R.I.) Country Club. They fired a 13-under 58. Seventy-eight golfers participated in the tournament. 

Upcoming events 

• The PGA Pro-Veteran tournament will tee off on Sept. 9 at Mohegan Sun Golf Club. 

• The Connecticut Section PGA Championship starts on Sept. 21 at Wintonbury Hill Golf Course in Bloomfield. 

• Black Hall Club will host the CSGA Two Man Team Championship on Sept. 28. 

• Shennecossett will be the site of the CSGA Al Acker One Day Championship on Oct. 20. 

• Please send golf results and items of interest to g.keefe@theday.com