FAIRFIELD — Jeff Sullivan’s pursuit of golf perfection has never been confined to one weekend each summer.
It begins months earlier, with predawn workouts alongside his wife, practice sessions at a simulator before work, evenings spent dialing in wedges and putts, and a steady schedule of amateur tournaments.
Those months of preparation culminated in another milestone Sunday.
Sullivan fired a final-round 5-under-par 67 to finish at 7-under 137 and capture his 10th Fairfield City Golf Championship at Fairfield Greens South Trace.
After opening with an even-par 70 on Saturday, the 2004 Fairfield High School graduate separated himself from the field on the final day, finishing six strokes ahead of runner-up Pete Betzold (143).
“I play in a lot of local amateur events all throughout the year, but I think this is the one that — not to call the season a success or failure just based on this — but any year that I can check this off the list is always a successful one for me,” Sullivan said. “A lot of the events that I’ve played this spring and summer have given me some things to work on and lessons learned that I was able to apply this weekend.”
The victory added another chapter to one of the area’s most remarkable amateur golf careers. Sullivan has now won every Fairfield City Championship he has entered since 2020, missing only the 2022 tournament because of a scheduling conflict, and reached the 10-title milestone that few amateur golfers ever approach.
Fairfield Greens head golf professional Chris Rossi, who has overseen the tournament since arriving in June 2023 after previously competing in it as a player, said Sullivan’s sustained excellence stands out even in a championship with a rich history.
“Sully is a great player. One of the best ball strikers I’ve been around,” Rossi said. “What he’s been able to do in the Fairfield City Championship over the last 20-plus years has been incredible. He continues to deliver, even when there’s so much pressure on him to win just because people expect it from him. He beat a lot of really accomplished players this year, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Sullivan’s dominance has naturally drawn comparisons with Hamilton City Golf Championship standout Kyle Hodges, whose recent run of titles has mirrored Sullivan’s success across town.
“We’re chasing each other,” Sullivan said with laugh.
The accomplishment, Sullivan said, deserves more appreciation than many realize.
“I think people hear ‘Hamilton City’ or ‘Fairfield City’ and just think it’s some rinky-dink event,” Sullivan said. “When you compare it to a college event or a PGA Tour event, it is. But the consistency that Kyle and I have to keep up to stay competitive with normal life and work — we’re getting older, we’ve got to make sure our bodies can handle it — I think it’s very underrated. People don’t really understand what goes into keeping your game at that relatively high level for that long.”
Maintaining that level has required a meticulous routine.
Now living in the Springboro-Centerville area after returning from Charleston, South Carolina, in 2024, Sullivan works full time as a software project manager. Golf often comes before the workday begins, whether through strength training, range sessions, simulator work or short-game practice.
“I play maybe once a week, but there’s a lot of chipping and putting and range time in between those rounds,” Sullivan said. “It’s really hard to get your approach-shot distances and putting speed dialed in, especially when you know it’s that one specific weekend every year where everything has to come together.”
His journey has also attracted an audience beyond the golf course.
Several years ago, Sullivan began documenting his quest for 10 Fairfield City titles on social media. What started as a personal journal has grown into a following interested in his practice routines, preparation and mental approach to the game.
“It started specifically with this goal in mind because I set the goal of getting to 10 city championships four or five years ago,” Sullivan said. “People seemed to enjoy what I was sharing about how I practice and how I approach things. Now it’s snowballed into a lot of fun attention online, and I just keep sharing what I do.
“They’re all there. I’ll post things and get different perspectives that maybe I hadn’t thought of. Mostly it’s to document it for myself and see where it goes.”
Despite reaching a milestone few local golfers have matched, Sullivan has no plans to leave the amateur ranks.
“I just love the game so much that I’m always going to find a way to compete,” Sullivan said. “People ask me all the time if I’ve ever wanted to go pro, but there’s so much high-level competition in the amateur world, even locally, that I really enjoy getting the chance to continue to compete at whatever level it is.
“If I was going out and winning everything I played, then maybe it would be time to move on. But with all the college kids playing now, some of these tournaments are almost like small professional events. I just love competing.”
Sullivan headlined a full slate of champions crowned during the tournament.
Nathan Wolpert won the First Flight with a 155, while William Eichhold, Jake LaRoche and Andrew Chuck shared runner-up honors at 159. David Curran claimed the Second Flight title with a 153, ahead of Dean Clements (162), and Daniel Dalic captured the Third Flight with a 180, edging JJ Rennekamp by one stroke.
Tony Tucci earned the Senior Men’s championship with an even-par 72, finishing ahead of Tony Fogle and Gordon Willins, who tied for second at 74. Sarah Abner won the Women’s division with an 86, followed by Kelly Becker (90), while Peggy Kelley captured the Senior Women’s title with an 89, ahead of Pam Johnson (97).
