Gary Simpson silenced the doubters who speculated he would go winless in 2007 by winning Sunday’s 2007 SVCC Invitational. After coming up empty earlier this year at the Interclub Championship, the Steeplechase, and the Tick open, the Groundskeeper found victory and the Fawkirk Trophy waiting for him on Champion’s Bridge at the SVCC.
The day was beautiful for mid November and the 10 person field was filled with past champions. Defending Invitational champ Simpson, current Fawkirk Trophy holder Zander Oldendorp, BCC Cup holder Bill Auld, 06 Steeplechase champ Derek Schulz, and past Tick Open champ Mike Rosenberg were all there.
Rober’ Auld returned from the European circuit to make his claim along with “Superstar” John Zimnoch, Pete “the Eagle” Johnson, and newcomer Jimmy Lawson. Tony D’anna, fresh off a senior tour event at Pebble Beach arrived late but was quickly on the course to make his mark. TD’s tardiness was all but forgotten when he introduced his dad Gerry who acted as his caddy and also provided words of encouragement to all those who competed this day. Thanks Gerry!
As the groups entered the stroke play round BCC Groundskeeper Simpson noted, “The pressure level is really elevated with the stroke play format. Every shot matters to everyone and we are not used to that in these tourneys.” And the fireworks started quickly on the first hole as the field feared that another “Madison Rookie” might prove troublesome. Jim Lawson refusing to take relief from the fence proceeded to sink a 40’ birdie chip to go 1 under. Not many other birdies were had in the first foursome that included Zander, Rober’, Mike and Jim. Zander would post the low score of the group with 1 birdie and 2 bogies for a 1 over 28.
The second group of Bill, Derek, G, JZ, and Pete where able to put up better scores than their group 1 counterparts. Bill led the group matching the course record with a 1 under 26 and Simpson finished right behind with even par 27. Derek posted a respectable 29.
So with the stroke play first round over the players convened at the Clubhouse anxious to see where they were to be seeded in the match play round. They were greeted with all the comfort foods of home when the SVCC staff of Karen and Barbara provided all with soups, sandwiches and hot mulled cider to help take the chill out of the crisp November air.
Ok-I’m full -back to Championship golf-what are the matches?
1 Bill Auld v 10 Jim Lawson
2 Gary Simpson v 9 Pete “The Eagle” Johnson
3 Zander Oldendorp v 8 Mike Rosenberg
4 Derek Schulz v 7 John Zimnoch
5 Rober’ Auld v 6 Tony D’anna
Match one was over early as the Coach beat the Captain when Bill dispatched Jimmy 5 and 4. At least they had time to revisit the clubhouse fare and grab belt at the bar.
The drama would begin in earnest in match 2. Defending Invt. champ Gary Simpson faced fellow BCC member Pete “the Eagle” Johnson. Simpson was heavily favored, but as they say “that’s why you play the games”. And after Johnson posted back to back birdies on #5 & #6 he found himself even with Simpson with 3 to play. Having aced #7 before in tournament play, “the Eagle” muttered to himself “I can win this thing-can I win this thing?” “But as quickly as Johnson rose, he fell and Simpson quietly closed him out winning #7 and #8 with pars. After the match Johnson lamented “I was this close!”
The match of the day was next when Mike Rosenberg saw an opportunity to enact some revenge by taking on Zander, with whom he was tied going into the last hole of the 07 Steeplechase. Rosenberg lost the championship on that day and many have felt that he has not been the same golfer since. The duo traded shots the entire round and Zander’s “miracle par” from the wooded rough on #4 was promptly dubbed “the shot of the tournament” and literally knocked Rosenberg to the ground as the hole was halved. How could Rosenberg compete with shots like that?
Well #7 would provide the canvas for Mike to answer that question himself. A dreadful tee shot left Rosenberg in the middle, and I mean the middle, of a blue spruce and questioning his ability to hold onto his 1up lead. The other contestants were seen shaking their heads. “Just take a drop, Mike. Please-you have no chance” said one. “He has no backswing-what’s he thinking” said another. The words of “this is a big mistake” were still floating in the air when Rosenberg ignited the crowd with a birdie chip that eclipsed any seen on this course before.
That put Mike 2 up with 2 to play and as they walked to #8 Zander stated “I don’t think 9 holes will be enough today.” He was right! With wins on #8 and #9 extra holes were needed to decide this epic match. Going back to #9 proved to be the second chance Mike needed and he advanced to the finals on the first extra hole. A match for the ages!
That left the 4/7 match of Derek and JZ and the 5/6 match of Rober’ and Tony to fill out the field for the finals. Both matches were characterized by big leads and comebacks as Derek went down 3 to JZ but managed to win 5 holes in a row to beat the stunned underdog.
Old friends TD and Rober’ fought courageously and birdies were need to win the first three holes. But when Rober’ bogied #5 Tony was 2 up and in position to punch his ticket to the finals. But Rober’ didn’t bring his prized fedora to go home that quick and forged ahead with wins and #6 and #7 to bring the match all square going into #8. Ultimately TD bounced back and closed out the match winning #8 with par halving the ninth to win 1 up.
So with the sun setting and the temperature dropping, the finalists of Bill, Gary, Mike, Derek and Tony set out to see whose name would be the next to be etched on the Fawkirk. When the entire group got a point on #1, the gallery knew they were going to be watching a battle. Impressively 3 were able to birdie #2 and Bill, Gary and Derek went 1 up on Mike and TD. Continuing on many holes were halved and Rosenberg had the only outright win on #6. Bill went scoreless on holes 5-8 while TD and Mike couldn’t muster much more and all had faded out of contention.
As the field approached #9 it suddenly became apparent that an old familiar face was again in position to take another title. Quietly, an adjective never before used to describe him, “the Groundskeeper” stood poised to reclaim his place in the winners circle. Derek down 1 was the only one now who could catch Big G. But without a notable highlight on the day, barely beating the 9 seed in match play, Simpson halved his eighth hole of the day at #9 and won the 2007 Invitational Championship at the SVCC!!
“Slow and steady-Turtle Golf” was my mantra today” said Simpson after the win, “Slow and steady.” And when all was said and done Simpson had defended his Invitational title, got his name on the Fawkirk trophy for the 4th time and with uncharacteristic calm silenced his critics who said the pack had caught up with him.
And as Steeplechase champion Zander Oldendorp presented Simpson the Fawkirk Trophy on Champion’s Bridge and he put on the Plaid Jacket, the rest of the tour golfers were asking a question they had hoped they might never need to ask again.
“How we gonna stop Simpson?”
