Michael Hesson putts on the 18th green during the Par-Makers Golf Tournament at CrossWinds Golf Course Sunday, August 4, 2024. This year’s tournament, organized by the Par-Makers Golf & Social Club, was the 60th all-time for the long-running event. It began in 1963 and has been played annually except for one year, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. (Daily News photo by Joe Imel/joe.imel@bgdailynews.com)

With all four players in the final group tightly packed, Nick Lawson didn’t have time to be very social during the final round of the Par-Makers on Sunday at CrossWinds Golf Course.

Lawson’s focus paid off, as he broke away from the field to win by nine shots after carding a 3-under par 69 on Sunday. Lawson, who started the day in a three-way tie for first, finished with a two-day score of 2-under 141.

“Starting off, I had the mentality that I wanted to put my foot on the throat of the people that were playing against me,” Lawson said. “I didn’t say a lot probably the first 12 holes or so. They were all talking and shooting the crap, giving life stories and I was quiet on the tee box. I didn’t talk much because I was focused. I had a goal and I wanted to beat everybody.

“Once I saw I had the opportunity to do that, I opened up to them a little more those last few holes.”

While it was Lawson’s first time competing in the tournament, the Louisville native was no stranger to the course. Still, he said the first round was more about getting the feel for the course before really finding another gear on Sunday.

“I think yesterday was a really good learning experience in learning what shots to play and what shots not to play,” Lawson said. “Today, I played a little more conservative. Obviously yesterday, with the entire men’s flight playing off the gold tees, it was more strategic. Today, playing from the tips and the blacks, you have to have some length. Fortunately for me I am long off the tees, so it worked to my advantage.”

Lawson added the course played faster Sunday, which really played to his strengths.

“The greens were a little bit slower yesterday,” Lawson said. “Just about anywhere you landed in the fairway, it was kind of sticking. Nothing was really bouncing and rolling out. Today, the course had two days of sitting in the sun so the greens were rolling a lot faster and a lot smoother, so everything in the fairway was carrying a lot further. The course was playing a little bit longer and the greens played faster. Luckily for me, that just worked to my advantage.”

Juan Lazaro, who opened with a 77 on Saturday, fired a 1-under 73 to finish second in the overall men’s division with a two-day score of 150. Osbaldo Puga, one of three co-leaders after round one, finished third with 152 while Michael Hesson and Josh Shotwell both finished with a 153.

Perrion Gordon was the overall winner in the Ladies’ Division with a two-day score of 170 – three shots better than Kyla Bursey. Gordon was consistent, shooting an 85 in both rounds.

Richard Adams claimed the Men’s Senior title finishing with a two-day score of 154, while William Haymer finished with a two-day score of 153 to earn his second straight title in the Men’s Super Senior division.

This year’s Par-Makers, organized by the Par-Makers Golf & Social Club, was the 60th time the event has been played. The tournament began in 1963 and has been played annually except for one year, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.

David Miliken, a two-time winner and charter member of the event, was honored as the lone surviving member of the original tournament with the men’s overall winner’s trophy officially named in his honor beginning this year.