Last modified: Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:07 AM EDT Ron Raker reacts as he sinks a putt on the 12th hole. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin) The game never gets old BY PETER GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - John Thibeault was a happy man. At 82 years of age, the Attleboro resident had survived playing 18 holes of golf; he had lost only one golf ball; and he broke 100. "It's good exercise and it keeps your mind off other things," chuckled Thibeault, one of the 107 golfers who assembled at the Chemawa Golf Course Wednesday for the annual Attleboro Area Golf Association's Senior Championship Tournament. But, it's never about winning. It's all about getting that little white sphere around the course (without losing one or two) in the fewest swipes. "You challenge yourself, then it's you against the other people and the course," related Rich O'Brien of Attleboro, a Highland Country Club member, who spent as much time chasing crime during his tenure with the Attleboro Police Dept. as he does now chasing a golf ball. In the 80 and over Division, former King Philip High golf coach Mike Cosentino not only bettered his age, but came in with a 1-over-par round of 73 - that included a 1-under-par backside score of 32. In the 70-79 Division. Ernie Nicol, Richard Mascio and George Hartvig all came in with low gross scores of 80 among the field of 25 starters. But it was Nicol, who claimed the title with a reduced round of 61, a three-shot margin over runners-up Chet Enbinder and Ken O'Reilly, both of whom had scores of 88. In the 60-69 Division, Jim Sullivan claimed first place in the low net division with a score of 63, two shots better than Jim Keenan. Bucky Butkevich and Ed LeBeau shared third place with reduced scores of 67, having rounds of 88 and 81 respectively. Sullivan was one of only five players to break 80 on the day, finishing with a 74. Among the field of 41 players in the 50-59 Division, George Peck captured title honors with a reduced score of 65 - a one-shot margin over Peter Fontaine (72), Dan Deyesso (75) and Russ Franceschini (77). Peck, who started his round at the par-3 No. 16 hole, was one of 18 players who broke 80 on the well-manicured Chemawa layout, finishing with a 77. Bruce Congdon, the 26-time champion at the Foxborough Country Club, claimed the "low medalist" title by winning a "sudden victory" playoff with Fontaine on the first hole. Both Congdon and Fontaine came in with 3-over-par rounds of 72. On the par-4, 349-yard No. 1 hole, Congdon two-putted from inside 15-feet for a par, while Fontaine had to settle for a bogey as his 16-foot birdie putt not just skimmed by the cup, but stopped five-feet beyond the hole. Being second-best overall, being tied for second place in the low net category of the 50-59 Division, is just frosting on the cake for Fontaine, competing in his first AAGA Senior Tournament. "For one reason or another I had never played the seniors (tournament)," said the AAGA Open veteran. "The course was in great shape, hats off to the staff at Chemawa and it was fun." Fontaine has been on a course just three times this season, but it was more than striking the ball from tee to green that was of championship caliber - it was the camaraderie. "It's not even the competition, it's the friendship," said Fontaine of seeing many a familiar face. "There are a lot of guys who don't play the (AAGA) Open and I must have run into 20 guys who I haven't seen for five or six years." Leo Sullivan of Attleboro, another former Attleboro Police Dept. member, finished with a round of 87. So he not only had to take a ribbing from O'Brien (who shot an 81), he didn't even have enough shots (handicap) to overtake his gendarme and foursome member, losing out on that net score 77-70. "It's a very aggravating game," said Sullivan, who hits the links, often with O'Brien, five or six times a week. "Some days are not so good, then you have a good round, shoot in the 70s and it makes you want to come back the next day." "I had an 8-iron in my hands on the 16th, Rich hit a 9-iron before me and put his ball right next to the cup, so I took his advice - it was the right club," chuckled Sullivan. And through 18 holes and beyond O'Brien regaled everyone with golf tales. "Like the time that I was in Florida and I was paired up with this guy who said he was the driver for General Patton," recalled O'Brien. "Then I'm watching the Oliver North show and he's showing war clips and there he is, "Woody." Another time, I was on Marco Island and this guy is walking the opposite way swinging a club and talking and I'm saying to myself, I know that voice - it was (former Red Sox announcer) Ken Coleman. The camaraderie that you find on a golf course can't be beat." Thibeault, who captured second place as the second "low net" scorer in the 80 and over division, has plenty of partners on a golf course - his wife Aurore played until arthritis took her out of the golf cart last year, while his sons, John and James, and daughter Claudia and their spouses all hack around. "I love the game - I gave up fishing for it!" beamed Thibeault, who plays Stone-E-Lea, Locust Valley and the Rehoboth CC on a regular basis. "I was 27 when I first started playing at Locust Valley and I've had three holes-in-one, two at Norton (on the Nos. 3 and 6 holes) before it turned into an 18-hole course. "The game is very challenging, it's the hardest sport in the world to play. When you get out there and start playing, you don't think of any aches and pains!"