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ATTLEBORO - One of the living legends of Attleboro area golf, a guiding force in the early days of the Attleboro Area Golf Association and all around sportsman, Don Pelletier, made an appearance during the second round of the Attleboro Area Golf Association's Open at the Highland Country Club. "I remember when this tournament first started and we encouraged as many guys as we could to participate," said the 81-year-old Pelletier, who with Harvey Barton followed founding fathers Mal Wendell, Alex Ohlson and George Fredette. After rotator cuff surgery and a right knee replacement, he still gets onto his home course, the Wannamoisett CC in nearby Rumford, R.I. a half-dozen times a week. "The Open has really developed into a very competitive tournament, there are so many good players." ...

Defending champion Billy White came in with a hard-earned round of 74, but at 150, he is 14 shots behind Ryan Riley. White took three consecutive double bogeys on the front side at Nos. 4, 5, and 6, but then played the backside at even par with seven pars. "I probably got the most that I could out of the round," said White ...

The most bizarre round belonged to John "Buck" Renner, who in trying to replicate the 25th anniversary of his lone AAGA Open title, shot a dazzling 2-under-par 33 on the front side. But on the backside, he was 9-over-par at 44 - an 11-shot swing. "I played great the frontside (birdieing three of the first four holes), maybe the best I've ever played here. Then on the backside I had two double bogeys (at No. 10 and No. 13), I just didn't hit good shots" ...

Young and old alike

For the first time in memory, both the AAGA Senior Tournament champion - Bill Garrigan (159) of the Foxborough CC - and AAGA Junior Tournament champion - Jamison Randall of Cumberland and the Chemawa Golf Course -have qualified for the final two days of play. Garrigan had his arm twisted by former AAGA Open contender Al Sonnenberg to enter. "The Senior Tournament is fun, but I thought that this would be too much pressure," said Garrigan, who will have Sonnenberg carrying his bags for the final 36 holes ... Because 43 players had rounds of 79 or better during the first day of the AAGA Open at Wentworth Hills, the cut lowered itself to 160 for the final two rounds of competition. Fifty-five players have advanced to the Norton and Foxborough CC's ...

Earlier this season, Attleboro native son Gary Delude teamed with his son Mike, a 15-year-old sophomore at Bishop Feehan, to win the R.I. Golf Association's Father-Son Tournament title at the Fenner Hills CC. The elder Delude shot a superb round of 1-over-par 72 to move into the top 10, while the younger Delude had a 79 and missed the cut by four shots. Gary Delude, a member at the Pawtucket CC, was even-par 35 on the backside with three birdies. "I'm familiar with this course, it's soft, the greens are smooth, they're rolling great," said Delude of the conditions ...

As for the other "father-son" sweepstakes, Attleboro's Ryan Weeman (166) carved out a one-shot win over his dad Dave Weeman (167), both of who missed the cut; Mansfield High junior Tom Grant (160) not only made the cut, but had a 10-shot win over his dad Tom Grant ("he beats me all the time, I'm always giving him money"); Attleboro High grad Kyle Bouley, now attending the San Diego Golf Academy in Orlando at 164, bested his dad and 2006 champion Bert Bouley (165), but both missed the cut ...

And in the always "not so friendly" rivalry among the Gaskin brothers, Billy Gaskin (153) had a nine-shot win over Shawn Gaskin (162). "It's $100 a day or $200 overall," chimed in Billy, who gained a caddy for the final two days. "He'll be harassing me, but that's brotherly love!" ...

Three-time Foxborough CC club champion Scott Congdon, the Bryant University senior, got himself back to respectability with a 3-over-par round of 74 with 10 pars. "I had a million putts, a lot of three-putts - I didn't make any" ...

Architectural wonder

Highland CC course superintendent John LeCompte set up the refurbished course "very fairly." With new tee boxes at Nos. 1, 3 and 9, with more bunkers and with wider fairways, the par-71 layout was in prime condition. "I really thought that the toughest pin placement was at No. 3, with the hill coming into play" ...

The AAGA Tournament Committee terminated play for about 40 minutes during the morning round due to rain, but two afternoon downpours had them creating alternatives - such as returning whatever foursomes unable to complete the round due to rain and/or darkness return to finish today at the Highland CC; or eliminating all backside scores and counting just the nine-hole frontside, thus creating a 63-hole tournament ...

A golf tournament in memory of former Attleboro High and AAGA Tournament golfer Andy Falk will be held Oct. 11 at the Triggs Golf Course in Providence. Proceeds will help create a trust fund for Falk's four-year old daughter Lindsay. In addition to individual and group participants, sponsors and donors for a silent auction are needed. For further information contact www.andyfalkclassic.com or call 508-399-7300 ...

The coach will be running laps! Maybe, New Attleboro High golf coach Kevan Higgins (170) was well surpassed on the scoreboard by current Bombardier aces Brandon Nolan (161) and Tyler Dias (158). Nolan vastly improved his "ball striking" skills over the summer months, while Dias has been centering lines for the Attleboro High hockey team in two summer leagues ... Attleboro's Roy Murphy, a member at the Blackstone National, is not only playing in just his second AAGA Open, but is among the top 109, tied with a half-dozen others at 8-over-par 149. He came in with a 4-over-par round of 74 with 14 pars. "I call myself "America's Guest" because I play a lot of corporate golf," he chuckled.