Patty van der Velde experienced something more rewarding than winning another club championship.

She watched two of her children capture Stonington Country Club titles on Sunday.

Diederick defended his men's title while Anne-Marie was the women's champion for the first time.

"I was thrilled," said Patty, who's won three Stonington titles. "I'm very, very proud."

Patty was planning on playing in the women's club championship before injuring her elbow about two weeks ago while hitting a ball out of the bunker on the fifth hole.

The injury ended up being a blessing because she was able to caddy for Anne-Marie, who defeated former champion Jeanne Tingo, 2 up, on Sunday morning. In the afternoon, she watched Diederick hold off Eric Briggs, 3 and 2, in a 36-hole match.

"I had a smile on my face Sunday," Patty said.

Golf has played a big role in the lives of the van der Velde family.

Everyone plays.

A 74-year-old blessed with more energy than some people 20 years younger, Patty always has been an avid golfer. She won multiple titles at the former Pautipaug Country Club and been a champion at her home course in Naples, Fla., where she spends part of the year.

Chris, one of Patty's five children, once played on the European tour. He now owns a golf course in Bend, Ore.

A St. Bernard graduate and former Providence College baseball player, Diederick, 49, has had his share of success on the country club level. He had a tough road to the finals, knocking off Michael Hawley, a five-time champion, in the semifinals.

"He amazes me," Patty said. "He plays with rescue clubs. He's so good. You'd play them, too, if you could hit the ball like he does."

Before changing professions, Anne-Marie, 47, used to be a well-respected teaching pro. She learned the game playing with her mother.

When the pair played with each other during their Pautipaug days, Patty never let her daughter win.

"Now she could do circles around me," Patty said.

The family celebrated the two Stonington championships by eating Chinese food and cake.

It's a safe bet that Patty will be playing golf again in the near future. She hopes to compete in the upcoming Stonington senior club championship.

"I'll be back out there, don't worry," Patty said.

Short putts

• Several other champions were crowned on Championship Sunday at Stonington Country Club.

In the A Flight, Ron Hantman downed John Curtiss, 4 and 3. Jim Rooney defeated Scott Freeman, 3 and 1, inn the B Flight while Joe Williams beat James Wittliff, 5 and 4, in the C Flight.

In the women's competition, Mary Lou Andrias defeated Lorraine Tiberii, 6 and 5, in the A Flight. Mary Krenicky beat Mary Siegel, 1 up, in the B Flight.

• James Lathrop II tied the Pequot Golf Club men's championship record for titles with his sixth win on Sunday, narrowly beating James Stack, who won in the event in 2010. Vic Walter also has six, winning in 1968, 1974, 1983, and from 1989 to 1991.

Playing three rounds of stroke play over three days at the Stonington course, Lathrop finished with 215 strokes (73-72-70), two strokes ahead of Stack (71-76-70). Mike Scanlan placed third with a 226 (73-78-75).

Bill Kersteter won the first flight in a playoff, defeating Tom Allen. Kersteter shot rounds of 83, 80 and 79 for a 242 while Allen had an 84, 83 and 75.

In the second flight, Lance Kupka fired a 245 (83-84-75) to win by 11 strokes while Mark Johnson captured the third flight with a 293.

• Riding a hot putter, Anthony Kargul won the battle of champions last week, knocking off three-time defending champion Pete Stefanski, 6 and 5, in the scheduled 36-hole Elmridge Golf Course men's club championship final on Aug. 1. It was his seventh club title, one more than Stefanski, and first since 2012. Tim Sisk holds the record with eight.

• Craig Lambert's name will go up on the Shennecossett Golf Course men's club championship plaque for the first time. Playing in his first final, he defeated defending champion Steve Chevalier, 4 and 2, on Sunday.

Lambert, the No. 12 seed, needed to hold off some stifff competition to reach the 36-hole final, nipping Tim Sisk in 19 holes in the semifinals, beating Tom Ward, 1 up, in the quarterfinals and Mark LaPietra in 20 holes in his first round match.

Chevalier edged Rich Wilczewski, 4 and 2, in the semifinals.

Sisk, the 16th seed, made a nice run to the semifinals, starting out by beating medalist John Aspinwall in the first round.

In the women's club championship, top-seeded Kim Capizzano beat Jessica Hewitt.

• Dave Jones of the Mohegan Sun Country Club tied for fourth at the 31st Connecticut Public Links Championship held Monday and Tuesday at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield. He fired a two-round total of 4-over 148 (74-74), trailing winner Kyle Nolin of Tallwood Country Club by four strokes.

Josh Cameron of Norwich Golf Course tied for 24th with a 157 (77-80).

• Area golf courses, especially those along the shoreline, are in great need of some rain. But judging from one golfer overheard in the Shennecossett Golf Course parking lot on Tuesday, the dry weather hasn't hurt the playing experience thanks to the hard-working superintendents and their staffs.

"A very enjoyable golf course," said the golfer from the New Haven area who added that the greens are in better shape than some private courses in his area.

Upcoming events

• The first round of the Pequot Golf Club senior championship tees off Wednesday. Thirty-six golfers are in the field.

• Great Neck Country Club in Waterford will host the Jason Gigliotti 8th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament and Banquet on Monday. It all starts with lunch at 11:30 and then golf at 1 p.m. Proceeds will go to some worthy causes – The Shelton Intermediate School, Waterford Youth Services and Jason's children's college fund. Cost is $150 for both golf and banquet, $50 for just the latter. For more information, contact Tim Gigliotti at 860-442-7037.

• The Second Annual John Boyle Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament tees off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Boyle, known for his generous heart and a devoted fan of Pequot for almost 30 years, passed away last year. Proceeds will benefit a scholarship named in his honor. Cost is $100 per person, $75 for Pequot members, and includes a cart and steak dinner. For more information, contact Tod Evers at 860-235-0850.

• The Connecticut State Golf Association's 35th Senior Four-Ball Tournament will be held at Great Neck Country Club on Aug. 22.

• The Williams School will hold its Fourth Annual Pamela Lancaster Pettinari '77 Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 26 at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford. It's a great event open to all levels of golfers. Last year, two scholarships were handed out in memory of Pettinari, a graduate and former faculty member at Williams who passed away after battling breast cancer.

The $175 registration fee for the event, which starts at 10 a.m., includes lunch, golf, a cart, dinner and giveaways. To sign-up, go to www.williamsschool.org/plp2016

• Send results or any golf news to g.keefe@theday.com