WEST SPRINGFIELD — Competing in golf on the national level never crossed Paul Osypuk’s mind when he was caddying for his dad at the age of 12.
But on a blazing hot weekend at the end of this past July, the West Springfield native reached a pinnacle: he won gold in his age group at the National Senior Games in Iowa.
“It was truly amazing,” Osypuk, a longtime Connecticut educator of over four decades, said of the achievement. “I was ecstatic.”
Osypuk was one of over 200 golfers who flew to Des Moine, Iowa for the National Senior Games, which featured 11,000 athletes over the age of 50 competing in 26 different sports this summer. He won gold in the 70 to 74 age group after winning a three-day tournament by one stroke.
The competition, played at Iowa State University’s golf course, lasted from July 28 to 30.
Osypuk said his son and wife flew in to watch him hit a crucial birdie on the final hole of the second day, which ultimately ended up being the decider in his victory. The moment was particularly special given the fact his son caddied for him throughout the weekend.
“There’s nothing like your son and wife being there to watch you birdie that last hole,” Osypuk said. “To take the lead was exciting enough, but then to find out that it helped me win, it was just really something.”
A golfer of almost 60 years, Osypuk competed in various professional settings across his lifetime, including stints with the United States Golf Association. He qualified for this year’s National Senior Games for the first time in his life after he won the Massachusetts qualifier tournament last August at the Franconia Golf Course in Springfield. His 73 score was two over par and the lowest score of any senior age group in Massachusetts.
“That was encouraging,” he said. “That made me think I could compete on a national level.”
Not only did he compete in the tournament, but he also shined as bright as the blazing hot Iowa sun that yielded 100-degree days. The months of preparation even before the Massachusetts qualifier had paid off for Osypuk.
“Knowing my son was going to be there, I wanted to play well,” Osypuk said. “It was not only a great experience, but it was also just really fun.”
Now having felt a taste of victory, Osypuk is gearing up for another shot at qualifying for the 2027 National Senior Games. He said he’s once again participating in the state’s qualifier at Franconia on Aug. 22 with hopes of flying to the games in Oklahoma two years from now.
When asked to reflect on his time in Iowa, Osypuk said the entire experience this past summer was rewarding, and the people he met along the way radiated a “warmth.”
“It was just amazing to see so many seniors that are health conscious and exercise conscious,” Osypuk said. “It was truly a national gathering of people with like interests.”
